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F COXGfiESS. S 



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(Sljap. "PC R i 03 

fuXITED STATES OF AMERICA. | 







THE GENIUS 



FRENCH LANGUAGE. 



By H. HOLT. 



Qui cupit optatam cursu contingere inetam 
Multa tulit fecitque puer, sudavit, et alsit. 



THIRD EDITION. 



LONDON: 
E. T. WHITFIELD, 2, ESSEX-STREET, STRAND. 




1851. 






-v£z>\d\ 



LONDON : 

RICHARD KINDER, PRINTER, 

GREEN ARBOUR COURT, OLD BAILEY. 



v> 



PREFACE. 



It had long been considered vain to attempt, in 
this country, to teach the French language with 
purity of accent and idiom, and children have been, 
and are even now, frequently sent to France, for the 
sole purpose of learning to speak French. As long, 
indeed, as the student is confined to a knowledge 
only of the mechanism of the language — as long as 
grammars, encumbered with conjugations of verbs, 
useless rules, and pompous sentences, continue to 
multiply difficulties instead of removing them — such 
a step may be necessary; but if the student be 
taught that all the verbs, both regular and irregular, 
of the language, may be learnt in a few hours — that 
its mechanism, being similar to that of our own, may 
be acquired in a space of time almost a,s brief — and 
that all his attention should be directed to the pecu- 
liarities, to the idiom, to the genius of the language, 
in fine, to all those expressions which, not bearing 



IV PREFACE. 

literal translation, form the principal difficulty of 
conversation ; if, at the same time, he be taught to 
compose themes and versions, not of the sublime, 
but of the colloquial style, — he will soon acquire 
fluency of speech, and, under a good master, purity 
of accent, and the necessity of making aliens of 
our children will no longer exist. 

The design of this little book is to supply the 
spirit of the language, by introducing the learner to 
all the idioms in common use, exemplified in easy 
and colloquial phrases. 

Tables have been added to this edition, by means 
of which a mere child may^in a few hours, learn 
to conjugate all the verbs in the language. 

Many of the author's friends having requested 
him to publish a Key to the Exercises, he has com- 
plied with their request. He flatters himself, also, 
that Foreigners, learning English through the me- 
dium of the French, will, by using the Key, become 
familiar with the English Idiom, and thereby over- 
come their chief obstacle in acquiring a fluency of 
conversation. 



THE GENIUS 



FKENCH LANGUAGE. 



Numbers refer to the Rules. 

English words within brackets are not to be translated. 

Words in Italics are idioms the French of which will be found in the Index, 



IDIOMS. 

To ail or be the matter with Avoir. 

To be thirsty or dry Avoir soif. 

To be hungry Avoir faim. 
To be cold, (meaning to feel cold) Avoir froid. 

To be warm or hot, ( ,, ) Avoir chaud. 

To be right Avoir raison de. 

To be wrong Avoir tort de. 

To be sleepy Avoir sommeil. 



EXERCISE L 



What 5 ails 



you 



? I do not know what 136 is the 
matter with me. I am thirsty. I am hungry. I 
am cold. I am hot. You are right. He is wrong. 
There is nothing the matter with me. Who 5 is 

B 



2 EXERCISES* 

cold ? Are 1 you warm ? Am I not 4 right ? Are 
you not 4 wrong ? What 5 is the matter with him ? 
He is too cold. He is too hot. Was not I 4 right ? 
I am not wrong. What 5 is the matter with your 
mamma ? I am not so hungry as I was just now ; 

tout-a-Vheure ; 
but I am very* thirsty. I am not cold, on the 

a 
contrary, I am very warm. You were right. I was 
wrong. One is cold, even by the fire-side. I am so 

au coin dufeu 
cold that I cannot write. What 5 ails 2 the boy? 
Are you thirsty? We are hungry. I am very cold. 
I was very hot yesterday. I am too warm. Is he 
not wrong ? 4 He is always thirsty. You are al- 
ways hungry. Your brother is hungry. I am not 
so hungry now. Drink if you are thirsty. I am 
sure 13 you are cold. I shall be cold, if I do not 
put on my great coat. If you are cold, warm your- 
self. Your papa did not go 39 out yesterday, what 5 
was the matter with him ? You 9 should eat only 149 
when you are hungry, and drink only when you are 

ni inf. 
thirsty. I am so cold that I cannot hold my pen. 
I should 1 * be surprised if you were warm, so far 

que imp. subj. 
from the fire. Do you see that I am right, and 
that it is you who are wrong ? [If one were] to 
believe you, every one is wrong except yourself. 

tout-le monde 
You are always ill ; what is the matter with you ? 
What 5 is the matter with your dog ? My feet are so 
cold ! I am very sleepy. Are you sleepy ? I am no 
longer sleepy now. 

* Very, before chaudffroidffaimysoif, is expressed by grand 
or by the adverb Lien. 



EXERCISES. 6 

Are your hands cold ? Only feel* how cold my 

settlement 
hands are. In winter we 9 are always hungry, and 
in summer we are always thirsty. He is a man 
who is always cold, when others are hot ; and who 
is always hot, when others are cold. He must 7 have 
been very hungry tof have eaten a whole loaf. Some- 
thing must 7 be the matter with that dog, I never 
see it eating. 24 You must 7 indeed be very cold if 
they 9 never give you a fire. You do wrong to 

de 
suspect me. You are right in saying 24 that I am 
warm ; I was 38 never so hot in my life. I wish 13 you 

de je voudrais 

were 17 [as] hot as I [am] . I am [as] cold as ice. 
subj. 

Why must 7 I be wrong ? Who 5 told you 13 you 
were right ? If you were [as] hungry as (I am), 

moi 
you would not be so dainty. What is the matter 
with your mamma, that she does not come to see 
us ? There is nothing the matter with her. 



One must 7 be very cold in your country. If you 
had said quite 67 the contrary, you would have been 
right. You cannot 159 imagine how hungry I was. 

savoir 
I hope you will not be so hungry another time. 
What 5 was the matter with you the other evening ? 
A fop addressing himself to a man who was 10 
petit maitre 

being led to prison, asked him what was the matter 
en ce que 

* Adv r erbs are usually placed after the verb, 
f To, signifying in order to, is expressed by pour. 
B 2 



4j EXERCISES. 

with him; (the matter with me), replied the man, 

ce que fai c' 

is that my hands [are] tied, or I would 

f ai les (sans cela) 

teach you not 158 to insult the unfortunate. The 

a a 

best thing 13 you can 21 eat when you are thirsty, is 
a pear ; whence no doubt, comes the French pro- 
verb " To lay by for a rainy day." I am as hun- 

Garder une poire pour la soif une 

gry (as a wolf). We 9 eat before we are hungry, 

canine 
and 150 drink before 20 we are thirsty. In the first 
ages of the world, they 9 ate only 149 when they were 
hungry, and drank only when they 9 were thirsty. 
The strongest is always right, the weakest is always 
wrong. I was so sleepy last night, that I went to 
bed at eight o' clock. 



(It is of no use for you to) preach to us what 
vous avez beau 
was 10 done before the deluge ; I have seen you, your- 
self, eat as [much as] four [people] , and that after 
having had a good dinner. I am not so cold now 
as I was a short time ago. Since you are so cold, 

tout-a-Vheure 
why do you not come nearer the fire? I am cold 

s'approcher .de 
even by the fire-side, and I am always warm even 
in the middle of winter. You must 7 always be 
right, and I must 7 always be wrong. I am sure 13 a 
blanket has been 10 taken off my bed. I was so cold 
all night that I could not sleep. Nor I neither, I 

non plus 
could not sleep ; but it was because I was too warm, 



EXERCISES. 



yet I am sure 13 I have not more blankets than you. 
You are right in saying I lose by that bargain ; I 
lose more than three pounds by it. I am so sleepy 

de y 

that I must go to bed. 



IDIOMS. 

To take care of Avoir soin de. 

To take care (meaning to beware) Prendre garde de. 

To look (neuter) Avoir Fair. 

To look as if, or like, or to be likely to Avoir Vair de. 

rp . , ( Se qarder bien de or 

lo take care not to < , u . j , 

\ n avoir garde de. 

To want or to stand in need of Avoir besom de. 

To intend, or to have an intention to Avoir dessein de. 

To have reason to Avoir sujet de. 

To be in the habit of Avoir coutume de. 

To have a mind, or desire to Avoir envie de. 

Obs. — When avoir Vair has the name of an inanimate 
object for its nominative case, the adjective that follows 
agrees with the nominative, but when it is the name of a 
person, the adjective agrees in the masculine with air, as: 
She looks unhappy. Elle a Vair malheureux. That pear looks 
ripe. Cette poire a Vair mure. 



EXERCISE II. 

How unhappy she looks. She looks very con- 
tented. You look very ill, what 5 is the matter with 
you ? He looks like a thief. Your sister looks very 
unhappy. Those apples look too ripe. He looked 
so pale ! If you put on that coat, you will look like 
a coachman. You are right, I will not put it on. 
You would do wrong to put it on, I assure you. 
Take care to come. You do not take care of your 
clothes. That woman looks unhappy. That pear 
looks too ripe. Do not look so sad. Take care to 



EXERCISES. 

put my letter into the post. Does 4 he not look like 

a 
a sailor ? Do 3 I look pale ? You will take care of 
my watch, will you 4 not ? I want you. Do you 
want 1 any money ? I shall want that bye-and-bye. 

tout-a-Vheure 

1 did 38 not intend to offend you. I have no inten- 
tion to go thither. I have reason to be dissatisfied 
with you ; but you have no reason to be dissatis- 

de 
iied with me. He is 31 taking his chocolate, 

ce 
which he is in the habit of doing every day at this 
hour. 



I have a great mind to speak to him. Have 1 you 
a mind to see him ? Your mamma wants you. We 
stand in need of your assistance. When 25 I want 
you, I will send for you. You will have reason to 
be satisfied with me. He is in the habit of doing 
that every day. I have a great mind to play him 
that trick. Do 3 you intend to rob me ? I am not 
in want of money. You shall have no reason to 
complain of 14 it. I never intended to offend him. 
He shall have reason to repent it. I am not in the 
habit of telling falsehoods. He must 7 intend to 
injure you. I have a great mind to tell him so. 
Keep your money, I do not want it. 14 The things 23 
we are most in want of are cheap. I cannot 

a bon marche 
lend you the money 23 you want. I will take care 
not to tell him what you said. Take care not to 
believe it. I will take care not to tell him what 
I think. Do you think I look like a schoolmaster ? 



EXERCISES. V 

Does 4 he not look like a rake ? You must 7 have 
a great desire to ruin yourself. He has no intention 
to deceive you. I have no desire to go thither. 
Did he not 4 look like a Jew ? You must 7 take good 

Men 
care not to believe all you 10 are told. Take care of 
your health. I will take care of you. Take care. 
You look very pale this morning, are 3 you ill ? He 
looks like a ghost. He looks as if he wanted to 
fight. Take care not to speak to him about my 
marriage. I had no intention to offend him. You 
will have reason to repent your follies. He is in 
the habit of smoking a cigar every day after dinner. 



I have a great mind to go and 15 see him. How 37 
pale you look ! You look as if you had sat up all 

veiller 
night. He looked like a servant. He took care not 
to tell me that. I do not w T ant any money now, but 
I shall want some soon. Why do you ask me for 
money, if you do not want any ? 105 You have not 
the books 23 I want. He does not intend to do it. 
He had no reason to rejoice at 14 it. It seems that 
you are in the habit of telling falsehoods. I have 
not the least desire to go and 15 see your uncle ; he 
always looks sad and thoughtful. How 37 [very] 

reveur 
unhappy that woman looks ! She wants nothing. 
If you want me, come to my house this evening about 
six o' clock. Do you know why I look so sad ? Be- 
cause I want my dinner. I have reason to be dis- 
satisfied with my situation. It is my intention to 
leave it as soon as I can. 25 I will take care not to 
leave it before I have found another. You look to 
me as if you fared well. 



b EXERCISES. 

IDIOMS. 

To have to do with Avoir de commun avec. 

To have to deal with Avoir affaire a. 

To be afraid Avoir peur. 

To be agreeable to L* avoir pour agreable. 

To have courage Avoir du cceur 

To have a hand, or take a part in Avoir part a. 

To ache, or have a pain in Avoir mal a. 

To be ashamed Avoir horde de. 

To have on one's hands Avoir sur les bras. 

To have at one's disposal, or to ) A . 

t, „„ • „• m r ' > Avoir en mam. 

nave in view J 



EXERCISE III. 

If it be agreeable to you, we will go out. If it be 
agreeable to the gentleman, we will take a hand at 

/aire une partie de 
cards. Whom 6 have you to do with then ? I am 
afraid 13 I have 16 to do with rogues. What 5 have 
riches to do with happiness ? What 5 have politics to 

do with religion ? Are 3 you afraid of him ? On 
the contrary, it is he 100 who is afraid of me. When 
we 9 have to do with robbers, we must expect to 
be robbed. What 5 has your discourse to do with 
what I have just said ? I am afraid of catching cold. 
What 6 are you afraid of ? I am not afraid of you. 
You do right not to have to do with those people. 
You are very wrong to be afraid of that dog, he will 
not bite you. Do not be afraid. Why are you 
afraid ? If you have to deal with rogues you will be 
cheated. What 5 have your suspicions to do with 
what I have said ? 



He does not know whom 6 he has to do with. His 



EXERCISES. 9 

marriage has nothing to do with our affairs. I have 
so great a pain in my knee that I can scarcely walk. 
Are you not ashamed of your conduct ? Some cou- 
rage (is required) for that enterprise, and you have 

ilfaut 
none. I will have no hand in it. 14 I am ashamed 
to tell you so. You have no courage. If you have 
the head-ache, the best thing 13 you can do 21 is to go 
to bed. Man has always something the matter with 

mat 
him. My head aches. My feet ache. My back 
aches. My teeth ache. I have a pain in my side. I 
have sore eyes. My feet are cold. My hands are 
cold. I confess 13 I had 38 some hand in it. 14 Is it 
possible that you have 19 [any] dealings with those 
scoundrels ? You have no courage, I would not have 
to do with people who rob me ; you say you are 
afraid of them, and, as you go on, you are likely to 
be always afraid of them. They are not ashamed to 
plunder you openly, and you are afraid to tell them 
so. I will have no hand in the business 13 you 
mention. I should be ashamed to be 10 seen in 
(the company of) such vagabonds. 
avec 



Rashness has nothing to do with valour. Seeing 
whom 6 I had to deal with, I resolved to confess every- 
thing. I am afraid of (losing my way). If it be 

s'egarer 
agreeable to the ladies, we will stay here and 15 spend 
the evening. If you had any courage, you would 
not suffer yourself to be treated 10 so. I have often 
had reason to repent the part 13 I took 38 in that busi- 
ness. I have a pain in my right foot. If you have 
a pain in your head, you had better go to bed. You 
b 5 



10 EXERCISES, 

ought really to be ashamed of your conduct I have 
four poor little children on my hands. I have a good 
deal of business in hand. I have in view a very 
advantageous situation for you. It is impossible to 
grow rich with a wife and three children upon my 
hands. What 5 can riches have to do with happi- 
ness ? I plainly perceived I had to do with a rogue. 



They who are afraid of death, show that they have 
not lived righteously.* Since it is agreeable to your 

hien 
papa, why should you oppose it ? That man has no 
courage ; were it I, I would let every one see that I 
am not (to be cheated). I lay 13 your bro- 

homme a me laisser tromper 
ther had a hand in it. 14 I have so severe a pain in 
my head, 13 I cannot bear it. You always have the 
tooth ache. If it were I, I would have 24 them all 
drawn. You are wrong to be ashamed of a good 
action. I have so much business upon my hands, 
that I shall not be able to go and 15 see you for [a] 

de 
long time. He says he has a brilliant match in view 
for his niece. I have several situations at my dis- 
posal, you may (have your choice) . The fright 13 I 

choisir 
had, sufficiently punished me for the part I took in 

de 
that affair. I am afraid 13 you have 16 to do with a 
man more cunning than yourself. 
fi n 



See note s page S. 



EXERCISES. 1 1 



IDIOMS. 



I can scarcely, or hardly Taidelapeinea. 

There to be Y avoir. 

To be (speaking of one's age) Avoir. 

To be full, or covered with En avoir. 

To act (meaning to give one's self the airs of) Faire. 

To deal (at cards) Faire or donner. 

To pretend to be, or to set up for Faire. 

Fo be in vain for, or be of no use for Avoir beau. 



EXERCISE IV. 

I can scarcely believe you. He could scarcely 
believe that it was true. There is some truth in 
what you say. How old is your sister ? She will 
be fifteen [on] the seventeenth of next month. He 
was full up to the throat. He had fallen into the 
mud; he was covered with it up to his ears. I 
acted 40 the lawyer in that piece. It is your turn to 
deal. Whose 6 turn is it to deal ? It is my turn to 
shuffle the cards, it is your turn to cut, and that gen- 
tleman's turn to deal. What do you wish [to have] 
for trumps ; for when I deal I turn up what I 
d-tout retourne 

like ; will you [have] hearts, spades, diamonds, or 
vouloir 

clubs ? Do you think 13 there is 19 a better man in 

a 
the world than he ? 100 He must 7 be at least eighty- 
three.* Do you think 13 there is 19 any wickedness 
in saying that ? 
a 



* The word ans, years, must always be expressed in French 
when speaking of a person's age. 



12 EXERCISES. 

It is in vain for me to tell him so, lie does not 
believe me. It was of no use his crying out, no 155 
one listened to him. It would be in vain for your 
father to seek me ; it would be impossible for him to 
find me. It is in vain for you to talk, you are wrong. 
It is of no use for you to boast to me of your coun- 
try, I love England better .* There has been a 
deal of rain this year. Well ! I hope there will be 
no more. It was in vain for them 9 to cry out to 
him to stop : he was deaf, he did not hear [them] . 
If you were full up to the throat, you would not be 
satisfied. It is of no use his wishing for it, he shall 
not have it. How old is your grandfather ? He is 
seventy-nine. f I did not think he was so old. He 
must 7 be at least seventy-three. It will be in vain 
for you to look everywhere for it, you will not find it. 



It is in vain for people to talk ; I do not think war 
will be declared. How old were you then ? I was 
twelve years old. There is company at our house 

du monde 
to-day. He came 38 to see me all over mud, he was 
covered with it up to his eyes. Let me deal this 
time. It is of no use my looking about on all sides, 
I see nothing. I should hardly believe 13 he had 17 
acted so foolishly. It is of no use for you to 

unefolie pareille 
try no persuade me, I know he is not a man to fall 
blind-folded into the snares those villains have laid 41 
tete-baissee 

for him. He had been but a week gone, when I 
received 39 a letter informing me of the sad news of 

* See note, page 3. 

f The word ans, years, must always be expressed in French 
when speaking of a person's age. 



EXERCISES. 13 

his death ; he was only twenty-two. In crossing a 
field, I fell 38 into a ditch full of filth ; I was covered 
with it up to my ears, and had 38 great difficulty to 
get out of it. 14 How 37 well he knows how to act the 
hypocrite ! Will 1 you have the kindness to deal, 
sir ? Is it my turn to deal ? I thought it was yours. 
It is in vain for you to entreat, I will not grant you 
what you ask. I can scarcely believe my uncle is 
gone to France, for he has often told me he would 

en 
never go there. Many people ruin themselves by 
pretending to be gentlemen. He sets up for a great 
wit. He sets up for a learned man, but he does not 
know A from B. He is a man, / see, who well 

ni A ni B. 
knows how to act the hypocrite. What news is 
there to-day ? There is no news. There will be a 
ball at my aunt's [on] Friday ; are you invited ? 



IDIOMS. 

To counterfeit, or to act Faire. 

To go (a mile, &c.) Faire. 

To get, or to have done Faire faire. 

To burst out laughing Faire des eclats de rire. 

To accustom one's self to Se faire a. 

To turn, or to become Se faire. 

To please, or to do a kindness to Faire plaisir a. 

EXERCISE V. 

Have you ever seen him counterfeit deafness? Guess 

le sourd 
how many miles I have been 42 to-day. Your mother 
is going 31 to have 24 a house built at Greenwich. He 



14 EXERCISES. 

burst 39 out a-laughing, when I told him 13 you were 
going to be married. How can you accustom your- 
self to such a life? I would willingly go twenty 
miles* on foot to see that actor play; 35 he is [one] 
at all the 74 most fashionable parties in London ; 
de assemblee a 

(every one is anxious to have him), he is such 

c'est a qui Vaura 
(good company). That is the way to get 24 liked. 

rejouissant 
You will get 24 scolded. I am not accustomed to his 
ill-temper. After having listened to me to the end, 
he burst 39 out a-laughing. I have a great mind to 
turn soldier. You are so complaisant, that I am 
sure you will do me that kindness. You have so 
much patience, that you ought really to turn school- 
master. 

I have been three leagues this morning. Get 24 
yourself bled. Have 24 your coat mended. Try to 
accustom yourself to 14 it. He counterfeits lameness 

le hoiteux 
very well. I am going to have 24 a new gown made. 
He has had 24 a house built at Paris. Have 24 that 
meat roasted, do not have 24 it 14 boiled. Where do 3 
you get 24 your clothes made ? Where do 3 you get 24 
that done ? He has turned tailor. I advise you to 
turn tailor. From [a] surgeon he became [a] baker. 
You will get 24 yourseK hanged. He will get 24 him- 
self put into prison. He pretends to be deaf : but he 
hears all we are 31 saying. He will get 24 himself dis- 
liked. Go and get 24 yourself killed, if you are tired 
of life. A good girl gets 24 herself liked by every 

de 
body. I like to do a kindness to honest people. 
That would please me greatly. He is going to turn 



EXERCISES. 15 

watchmaker. I should like to accustom myself to 
your way of living ; but I cannot. He went away 
laughing heartily. Get 24 me two pairs of shoes 
made^ and one pair of boots. Get 24 your hair cut, 
you look like a hedge-hog. Carry this letter to the 
post. I am sure 13 you will do me that kindness. I 
cannot accustom myself to the climate of England. 
I am going to have 24 feathers put on my bonnet. I 

a 
cannot go a step without his finding fault with it. 14 
Get 24 a handle put to that saucepan. Have 24 a 
border put to that gown. You must 7 get 24 bled. 
I have told you more than [a] hundred times to 

de 
get 24 your coat mended. He pretends to be ill. 
He has had 24 a room built (over) his kitchen. 

au dessus de 
I am going to have 24 irons put« on my boots* Guess 
how many leagues I have walked 42 to-day. He 
went 38 all the way on foot. Would you believe that 
I walked fifteen miles this morning before break- 

subj. 
fast? 



IDIOMS. 

To be day-light Faire jour. 

To be dark Faire nuit, or sombre. 

To be hot (weather) Faire chaud. 

To be cold „ Faire froid. 

To be wet „ Faire humide. 

To be muddy „ Faire crotte. 

To be dirty „ Faire sale. 

To be rainy „ Faire de la pluie. 

To be bad „ Faire mauvais. 

To be fine „ Faire beau. 

To be sunny „ Faire du soliel. 

To be foggy „ Faire du brouillard. 



16 EXERCISES. 



EXERCISE VI. 



It was very cold yesterday. It was very hot last 
summer. Do not go into the park, it is very wet 
there. It is dirty every where. It is very bad 
weather, do not go out, wait until it be 20 fine. If 
it were not so wet, I would go out. It begins to be 
cold. Do you 1 think it will 19 be very cold this 
winter ? It is colder in London than in Paris. It 
is warmer in Italy than in France. It has been 
very rainy weather lately. Do not go into the wood, 
it is too wet there ; do not go the road way neither, 
for it is too muddy. The weather has been so bad 
lately that it is dirty everywhere. When it is 25 fine, 
we will all go together. I will get up as soon 
as it is 25 light. We will go thither as soon as it is 
dark. 

It is very foggy. It is colder to-day than 26 it was 
yesterday. It was warmer yesterday than it is to- 
day. If it be as cold as it is now, I will not go. 
It is always foggy [in] November, in England. 

au mois de 
It is dreadful weather. When 3 is it day-light now ? 
It is day-light now at half-past five. When 3 is it 
day-light in your apartment ? It is abominable 
weather, one ought never to go out without [an] 
umbrella. There ! the sun is out, see how 37 fine 

voila que 
it is ! When the weather is so bad it is better to 
stay at home. It is going to be fine, see how the 
sun shines ! For climate, 45 I prefer France, 51 the 
weather is always so unsettled in England. Do not 
walk on the grass, it is too wet. Who would have 
imagined it would 19 be so fine this afternoon ? It is 
very cold, you had better not go out. It is going to 



EXERCISES. 17 

be stormy. See, I was right, what nasty weather 

vilain 
it is ! It is not weather to turn a dog out. 



mettre dehors 



It is not day-light at four o' clock, or else I would 
set out with you. "When it is so hot, I prefer tra- 
velling by night. Yet it is always damp during the 
night. It is damp, 'tis true, but not cold. If it 
were not so muddy, I would walk all the way. It is 
not dirty in the road, but we should 8 be obliged 
to go through the forest. Not a day passes, 
but it rains ; and how 37 pleasant it is, is it not, to 
qu y il ne subj. 
be wet to the skin ? If it be bad weather, I will 

jusqu'aux os 
not go. Oh ! I am sure 13 it will be fine. The sun 
must 7 be out, in order to see what o'clock it is by 

a 
the sun-dial. How 37 soon it is dark now ! I think 
you would have some difficulty yourself to explain 
(the drift of) your argument ; we need not be told 

ou aboutit discours 

that when it is cold, it is not hot ; and that when it 
is hot, it is not cold. It will be night before he is 20 
ready, he is so long (decking himself out). It is 

a s'adoniser 
sometimes so foggy in London, that people 9 cannot 
see one another (in the middle of the day). In Eng- 

en plein midi 
land it often thunders, lightens, hails, rains, blows, 
snows, and shines, in one [and the] same day. It 
is impossible the weather should please 18 every body; 

a 



18 



EXERCISES. 



washer- women would wish it always to be fine, whilst 

que subj. 

hackney-coachmen would wish it always to rain. 17 



IDIOMS. 

To get, or become acquainted Faire connaissance. 

To send for Faire venir, or envoy er chercher. 

To take out (a stain) Faire en aller. 

To cook (n.)* Faire la cuisine. 

To manage so that Faire en sorte que (subj.) 

To do nothing but Ne faire que. 

To have but just Ne faire que de. 

To pay attention Faire attention. 

To be a bankrupt Faire banqueroute. 

To produce, or give rise to Faire naitre. 

EXERCISE VII. 

I became 39 acquainted, in that village, with a 
very amiable gentleman. Send for the doctor. 
Manage so that he may not perceive it. 14 You do 

subj. 
nothing but talk. How is it possible you should 
know 19 your lesson ? you do nothing but play and 
prattle all the morning. Send him that sum, but 
manage so that he may not know the name of the 

subj. 
person who has sent 41 it 14 to him. Why did you 
send for me ? I will send for your brother, if you 
like. I can cook and wash, said the girl, and [do] 
all the work of the house. I had 10 been sent for 
from Amiens to be a porter. Where 3 did 38 you two 
become acquainted? Your papa is but just gone 

* The active verb to cook } is faire cuke. 



EXERCISES. 19 

out. Pay attention to what I am 31 saying to you. 
He does nothing but amuse himself all day. 



I have but just told you so. I will pay more atten- 
tion another time. If you do not pay more attention 
to what I say to you, I will send for your master. 
It was there 13 we became 39 acquainted. You will 
never be able to get that stain out. He has done 
nothing but play all the week. I have but just 
dined. If you manage so that he does not perceive* 

subj. 
the trick that is being 31 played upon him, he will 
not have the least suspicion of it. 14 Does 3 she 
know how to cook ? It was at your house that I 
became 39 acquainted with that gentleman. They 9 
do nothing but eat and drink on Christmas-day in 
England. I will pay attention to it. 14 Do you see 
what attention he pays to it ? 14 He does not pay 
the least attention to what you are saying 31 to him. 
Try to become acquainted with that gentleman, he 
may be able to serve you. You do nothing but talk 
about that gentleman. Since I have been here, I 

pres. ind. 
have got acquainted with a number of people. If 
they 9 cannot do without my evidence, they 9 must 7 
send for me from Paris. 



I have just the thing for you ; this will take out 
all those stains. I advise you to marry a woman 
who knows how to cook. We will manage so that 
subj. 

* Obs.— To perceive, used figuratively, must always be 
expressed by s'apercevoir, and not apercevoir. 



20 EXERCISES. 

he shall know nothing about it. 14 When people 9 

subj* 
do nothing but drink, how do you think they 
can 19 be well ? Your brother has but just returned 
home, how would you have him know 19 what 
has taken place? Will you pay attention, sir, 
(here am I toiling) to explain the rule to 

ne voila-t-il pas que je me tue 

him, and he does not pay the least attention to it. 14 
Has not 4 your father been a bankrupt ? That will 
give rise to suspicion. Do you remember where we 

plural 
became 39 acquainted? Why do you not send for 
the doctor, since you are so ill ? It will 22 be in vain 
for you to try ; you will never be able to get out that 
stain. What used* you to do in your last place ? 
I used 40 to cook and wash. Manage so that your 
father may set out an hour before day-light. Your 

subj. 
brother did nothing but laugh during the sermon. 
We have but just dined ; why did you not come 38 
sooner? I did 38 not pay attention to what you 
said; 40 I thought 40 it was at five o'clock you dined. 40 
He will be a bankrupt before long. What 5 can 

qutil soit pen 
have produced the hatred he has against him ? That 
preference has given rise to much jealousy, and will 
stilL They have just cooked me a partridge, but I 
have no appetite. The simple countryman did no- 
thing but laugh during the whole time the play 
lasted. 32 It is often the men who cook in France. 
I have just sent for a French cook from Paris. 



* Obs. — The word used before another verb, is generally 
but a sign of the imperfect tense. 



EXERCISES. 21 



IDIOMS. 

To be shipwrecked Faire naufrage. 

To turn the conversation Faire tornber la conversation. 

To ask questions Faire des questions a. 

To frighten Faire peur a. 

To be the delight of Faire les delices de. 

To hurt, or to do harm to Faire mat a. 

It hurts me to II me fait de la peine de. 

To get, or procure for Faire avoir a. 

To let know Faire savoir a. 



EXERCISE VIII. 

Do not hurt the cat. Do not frighten the chil- 
dren. He has been shipwrecked. I turned the con- 
versation to poetry. You ought not to frighten 

sur 
children. He was the delight of his master. You 
frighten me. That frightens him. The least thing 
frightens him. You hurt me. That will not do you 
any harm. I will not hurt you. Hurt nobody. 
You hurt my leg. He always asks me questions 
which 6 I cannot answer. That hurts my eyes. He 
turned the conversation to commerce. Who 5 has 
been hurting 31 that child ? He has hurt my heel. 
He must 7 have hurt him. Poverty frightens him. 
That is not what frightens me. Why do you ask 
me so many questions ? It hurts me to see 35 that 
child cry so. Who has been hurting him ? It is 
not I 100 who have been 31 hurting him. Turn the 
conversation, if you can, on the new ministry. It 
hurts him to see his aged father obliged to work. 
You must have hurt that child, or he would not 

ou Men 
cry so. Provided you do not hurt 20 me, you may 
do it. 14 That man has been shipwrecked three 



22 EXERCISES. 

several times. Several 152 vessels have been wrecked 
different 

on that coast. iEneas was 39 shipwrecked on the 
coast of Africa. I will endeavour to turn the conver- 
sation on the conduct of the late ministry. Why do 
you ask me that question? What 5 is it that frightens 
you? Holy writ is our dearest delight. What harm 
would that do you ? It hurts me to tell him that 

apprendre 
news. He has promised to get that situation for 
me. Let me know where you move to. Moderation 
is the delight of the wise man, excess is that of the 
imprudent. It is 18 rare that one is shipwrecked 
more than once in one's life-time. Telemachus was 39 

de 
shipwrecked several times. By turning the conver- 
sation on war, we stall be able to discover what his 
sentiments are. If you 10 are asked any questions, 
answer only yes, or no. Let not their threats 
frighten you. My children are my dearest delight. 
The cane hurts. You cannot conceive how it hurt 40 
me to see the good old man mourning [over] his son. 
If you can get me that situation, I will give you two 
hundred pounds sterling. Don't, you hurt me. 
laissez done 



You will have the goodness to let me know where 
you are going to live. If you go by sea, you run 
the risk of being shipwrecked. That is the only 
thing that 21 frightens me. Just* tell me, what 

un pen 
harm would it do you to take a letter for me ? 
V se charger de 

* See note first, page 3. 



EXERCISES. 23 

(The custom-house officers) are in the habit now of 

les commis de la douane 
searching every one, and I am afraid 13 they would 
fouiller 

make 16 me pay very dear [for] the pleasure 13 I 
should have in obliging you. If you do that, you 

a 
will frighten him. You will hurt her. She has 
hurt herself. If you hurt me, I will cry out. Our 
vessel frightened 39 the inhabitants. We told 40 them 
we did 40 not intend to hurt them, but they were 
afraid to come on board. It hurt me to see them 
so ill-used. We were nearly 29 wrecked on their 
coast. What frightened them most was our fire- 
arms, which made us pass among them for superior 
beings. 



IDIOMS. 

To put to death Faire monrir. 

To send word to Faire dire a. 

To acquaint with Faire part de. 

To shame, or to make ashamed Faire honte a. 

To excite the envy of Faire envie a. 

To have made Faire faire. 

To fry, roast, boil, &c. Faire frire rotir, bouitter, fyc, 

To look sulky, or to sulk Faire la mine. 

To excite the compassion of Faire pitie a. 

To show, or to let see Faire voir a. 

EXERCISE IX. 

They put him to death, without giving him time 
to say his prayers. Send word to your brother, to 
come to London. He acquainted 39 me with his 
good fortune. Your sister is more advanced 42 than 



24 EXERCISES. 

you are; that ought to make you ashamed. His 
promotion excites the envy of every one. I will 
have 24 a new gown made. I will wait until I am 20 
in London to have some clothes made. You may 
a 

put me to death, but I will not betray my friend. 
Let him know that I will not have him come to my 
house again. I have sent him word so, but he pays 
no attention to it. 14 I will have 24 my clothes made 
by your tailor. Where do 3 you have 24 yours made ? 
chez 
I have 24 mine made at the tailor's who lives at the 

chez 
corner of your street. I will get that situation for 
you. If I succeed, I will let you know. He has 
sent me word that he will not come. I have ac- 
quainted him with what you told me. If I get you 
that situation, you must 8 give me a hundred 
guineas. Have you sent him word to come? If 
any one inquire [for] me, let me know. He has 
had 24 two pairs of boots and one pair of shoes made. 
I am going to have 24 some neckcloths made. I have 
sent word to your father that I shall not go to the 
ball. Tell the cook to fry that fish. Why do you 
look so sulky at me ? That poor man excites the 
compassion of every one. Show me what you have 
[got] . You will 4 not show him what I have given 
you, will you ? My sister has looked sulky at me 

present ind. 
these three days. Do not boil the meat too much. 
depuis 

If you roast that meat, I will not eat a morsel of 
it. 14 Did 38 you see how cross he looked at me ? 
That shows he intends to deceive you. I will let 
him see that I am not to be insulted 10 with im- 
punity. You had promised to show me your last 



EXERCISES. 25 

letter. He showed 39 my letter to all his friends. 
He will sulk for a week, if you do not give him 
what he asks. 



They 9 put 39 him to death in the most cruel tor- 
ments. Send him word that he is expected. 10 He 
would not acquaint me with the news 13 he had re- 
ceived. 41 Will 3 nothing shame you ? His immense 
riches excited 40 the envy of all his fellow-citizens. I 
have had 24 three new* gowns made this week. I 
had told the cook to fry that meat, instead of that 
she has boiled it. 14 I had rather 13 she had roasted 17 
it, than boiled it. (Is not that) a fine cause for 

ne voila-t-il pas 
sulking ? That wretched man excites the compas- 
sion of all the passengers. Let me see what you 
have found. I will show it you by-and-bye. I had 
rather 1 * 1 be put 10 to death than 26 be imprisoned for 
life. Send him word that I want to see him before 
he sets 20 out. You have put my two brothers and 
my father to death, and you would have put me to 
death too, if you could have caught me. You must 
send him word so. 73 He will acquaint me with it, 14 
I am sure. Do you 18 think 13 that will make him 
ashamed ? Since he excites your envy, why do you 
not try to be as virtuous as (he is) ? Do you know 

lui 
that I am going to have 24 a new gown made ? mamma 
has already bespoken 41 it. I wish 20 to have 24 two 
soles boiled for my dinner; what [a] pity ! I have 
told the cook to fry them. I am surprised 13 you 
a 

* Obs. — Nenf means new ; nouveau, before its substantive, 
means fresh ; and after, new-fashioned. 
C 



26 EXERCISES. 

did 17 not tell her to roast them; you are so fond (of 

a 
being contrary). Do not be sulky for that, I will 

contrarier 
eat them fried. That man really excites my compas- 
sion, he is always in [an] ill humour. Let me see 

de 
what you have in your hand. Why should I let you 
see it ? it does not belong to you , Why send me 
word that you would come ? Why should I ac- 
quaint him with my misfortunes ? 



IDIOMS. 

To value or esteem, or to set) ^ . ■, 

, ' > Faire cas de. 

value on J 

To pretend to Faire semblant de. 

To evince Faire par aitre. 

To have no occasion for N* avoir que faire de. 

To be all over with Eire fait de. 

w L ., ( Faire voile, or mettre 

Tosetsai1 \ a la voile. 

To sustain a loss Faire une perte. 

To reproach Faire des reproches a. 

To fall upon, meaning to kill, or j Fake ^ bme ^ 

take away J 

' Se faire gloire de, or 

Se faire honneur de. 



rr, , . ( Se faire gloire de. or 

To glory m < ~ v 



EXERCISE X. 

Your papa sets a great value on that picture. Pre- 
tend not to hear him. Is that the fine ring 13 you 
value so much ? It is all over with me. We set 39 
sail on the 18th of August, 1851. I have no occa- 
sion for your money. That is the value he sets on 



EXERCISES. 27 

your friendship. He pretends not to know any- 
thing about it. 14 Pretend to believe whatever he 
tells vou. He evinces great zeal in your affairs. I 
have no occasion for your advice. The wind being 
favourable, we set 39 sail, without thinking* of the 

a 
duke, who was gone to visit one of his relations. 
That plainly shows the little esteem 13 you had for 

Men 
him. It was all over with him, his enemies were at 
his (heels). It had been all over with me, if you 

troussez c'eut 
had not come to my assistance. He evinces great 
friendship for you. I have no occasion for that. Is 
that the value you set on the presents that are 
made 10 to you ? It is not a great loss that you have 
sustained, 41 I hope. He has reproached me for it. 14 
The creditors fell 39 upon every thing there was in the 
room. He glories in his vices. He has sustained 
considerable losses. You are always reproach- 
ing 31 me. Many young men, instead of* being 
ashamed of their vices, glory in them, and do not 

(scruple to) acknowledge them. The loss we 
sefaire scrupule de 

have just sustained is not very considerable. Did 38 
you come on purpose to reproach me ? They fell 39 
upon all the inhabitants without mercy. He glories 
in* having succeeded in* cheating the old man. 

a 
Young people often glory in their vices, and are 
ashamed of virtue. It is reproaching me, to be con- 

que 
tinually putting me in mind of the kindnesses with 

* Every preposition, except the preposition en, governs 
the following verb in the infinitive mood. 

c2 



28 EXERCISES. 

which you have loaded 41 me. The loss you have 
sustained 41 must 7 be very great, for you to grieve as 
you do. You must not reproach me for it. 14 You 
must set a great value, indeed, upon my presents, 
to give them away to such people. If he pretend 

pour 
not to understand you, do not spare him ; tell him 

menager 
all you know about it. 14 



If he evince any disposition to serve you, be 
assured he will not disappoint you. I have no occa- 
sion for [any] of these things, you may take them all 
away. It will be all over with you, if it be 10 known 
that you are here. If the wind be favourable to- 
morrow, we shall set sail without delay. The loss 
he has sustained 41 makes him sad. Was it to re- 
proach me that you sent for me ? You ought to set 
more value on your books, as it was your papa who 
gave 38 them to you. He pretended 13 he did not 
know me. The friendship 13 he evinced for your 
brother, proves him to be a man who easily forgets 
the injuries that have 10 been done 41 him. I have 
no occasion for your books, you may take them back. 
It was all over with him, when the death of his 
uncle put 39 him in (ready money), and saved 39 him 

enfonds 
from the misfortunes (into which) his imprudence 

ou 
was about to plunge him. We set 39 sail [on] the 
20th of August; we (were 40 bound) for St. Domingo, 

aller a 

where we arrived 39 safe and sound [on] the 3rd of 
October. The loss you have sustained 41 is not irre- 
parable. Why reproach me ? it was not my fault 



EXERCISES. 29 

that you were 10 arrested; the greedy creditors, after 

/aire saisir 
having fallen upon all your property, caused 24 you 
to be sought for every where, and now, far from 
pitying your misfortunes, glory in having punished 
a man who would not have scrupled, they say, to 
ruin them all. 



IDIOMS. 

To scruple to Se faire scrupule de. 

To be light, dark Faire jour, nuit. 

To put an end to Faire cessir. 

To deceive by falsehoods En faire accroire a. 

To be conceited Se faire accroire. 

To get rid of Se defaire de. 

To treat with kindness Faire des amities a. 

To keep Lent Faire careme. 

To give satisfaction Faire raison. 

To prosecute Faire son proces a. 

EXERCISE XI. 

(There is) a man who would scruple to eat pork, 
voila 
and who would not scruple to rob his own father. 
He scruples to tell him what he thinks of his con- 
duct. It is day-light now at six o' clock. I will go 
to your house as soon as it is 25 dark. I will soon 
put an end to that noise. He deceives you by false- 
hoods. It is day-light in America, when it is night 
in the East Indies. We get up as soon as it is light, 
and go to bed as soon as it is dark. You want to 
deceive me. Get rid of those prejudices. He is 
very conceited. I have been treated 10 with great 
kindness in that family. You ought to keep Lent, 



30 EXERCISES. 

friend, you are too fat. You must 7 give me satis- 
faction. He will 10 be prosecuted. He is a young 
man who is very conceited. I have got rid of my 
house. I soon got rid of him. Try and get rid of 
that man, or else he will ruin you. If he be prose- 

bien 
cuted, 10 he will be fined. I am very glad 13 I have 
got rid of him. He wanted* me to give him satis- 
faction. He never keeps Lent. Have 1 you got rid 
of your horse ? He always treats me with so much 
kindness, that I cannot deceive him. He ought to 
be prosecuted. 10 I should like much to get rid of 

Men 
that man. Treat him with kindness, and you will 
see that he will soon consent to their marriage. I 
do not know what is the matter with your brother 
lately, he always treats me with kindness now. He 
deceives you, there is no one he hates more than you. 

subj. 
If it were light at five o' clock, I would set out with 
you. It is dark for six months at the north pole. 

pendant arctique 

I had 38 a great deal of trouble to put an end to that 
contest. They 9 have been 31 trying to deceive you. 
He is very conceited. Try to get rid of that bad 
habit. After the kindness with which I have 10 been 
treated, nothing will be able to induce me to forsake 
him. 



A man of a hot constitution ought to keep Lent 
temperament 
for ever. He shall give me satisfaction for it. 14 
They 9 are going to prosecute him. You will do 

* To want, signifying to wish, is not expressed by avoir 
besoin, but by vouloir, followed by que and the subjunctive. 



EXERCISES. 31 

well to get rid of that dog, he does nothing but bark 
all night. I do not see why you should scruple to 
dance, there is not so much harm in dancing, as in 
reading novels. You are in bed two hours after it is 

a 
light, and yet you often go to bed before it is 20 dark. 
It is time, I think, to put an end to your disputes. 
It is not he that will deceive me. He is a conceited 
coxcomb. I should have wished to get rid of him, 
but I could 38 not. Nothing would have given me 
greater pleasure than to get rid of that servant, 
but it was not [an] easy thing; he would not go 
away without [having] his wages [paid him], and I 
was at that time short of money. But you were 



not obliged, for that, to treat him with so much 
kindness. He was a Catholic, and yet he would not 
keep Lent, and all the year round, even [on] Good 
Friday, he ate 40 meat, whilst myself and all my men 

gens 
abstained 40 from it. He will be obliged to' give you 
satisfaction for his uncivil conduct. If he had been 10 

de 
prosecuted, he would have been 10 hanged; but I 
would 38 never have him taken up, although 20 I could 
have done so several times. I am much obliged to 
you for having rid me of him. It was still light 
when I met 38 you. It was (as dark as pitch) last 

la nuit la plus sombre 
night at nine o'clock. It was just day-light when I 
awoke 38 this morning. 



32 EXERCISES. 



IDIOMS. 

To court, or to pay one's addresses to Faire la cour a. 

To wrong Faire tort a. 

To take a walk Faire un tour. 

To get into trouble Se faire des affaires. 

To shave one's self Se faire la barbe. 

To fine Condamner a V amende. 

To be able Eire en Stat de. 

To be about Eire question de. 

It respects, or it is about (imp.) // sagit de. 

To set about S'y prendre. 

EXERCISE XII. 

When we 9 are courting, we 9 have not time to 
think of anything else. Wrong no one. Will you 
come and 15 take a walk ? He will get into trouble. 
Do you 3 shave yourself? You wrong me. I am 
going to take a walk. He was shaving himself when 
I entered. 38 You wrong your brother, he is an 
honest man. He shaves himself before breakfast. 
Go and 15 take a walk before dinner. I will* not 
have you wrong his memory, he was a wise and 

subj . q 

virtuous man. You may* get into trouble, if you 
say that. If I get into trouble, it will not be you 
that will get me out. I must go and 15 take a walk, 
for I am tired of staying by the fire-side. It is no 
longer time to be courting at sixty. How have you 

de 
been 10 wronged ? I went 38 out to take a walk, but 
it began 39 to rain, and I returned 38 home imme- 
diately. 

* Will and would, when independent verbs, are expressed 
by vouloir ; should, by devoir; may, might, and could, by 
pouvoir. 



EXERCISES. S3 

I have got into fine trouble, by wishing to serve 

en 
you, and you alone can* get me out again. Itf is 
very disagreeable to be obliged to shave one's self 
every day. He will be fined, (that is) all, he will 

voila 
(get off) cheaply. Of what use is it (to apply) to 
etre quitte s'adresse? % 

me ? I am not able (to assist) you. Let us see, 

servir 
what 6 is it about ? When it respects doing any one 
a service, no one is readier to make promises than 
he, and no one less (punctual) in keeping them. I 

fidele 
will set about it another way. Do you not know 

de 
that your brother is paying 31 his addresses to my 
cousin ? If I have wronged your brother, I beg his 
pardon. Let us go and 15 take a walk in the park till 
tea-time. Your cousin has got into fine trouble, by 
the en 

meddling with their disputes. If (I were not to shave) 

de imp. ind. 

myself for a week, I should look like an old hermit. 
He must 7 have done something very bad, to % have 
been so heavily fined. What will be 10 done to him, 
if he be not able to pay ? 



How you set about it ! I set about it my own 

* See note in preceding page. 

f When etre is followed by a substantive, use ce before it; 
when by an adjective, use il. 
% See note second, page 3. 
c 5 



34 EXERCISES. 

way. Is it a time to be courting, when we 9 have 
one foot in the grave ? You wrong me. You wrong 
yourself. They 9 say it is good for (one's) health, to 
take a walk after supper. I am afraid of getting 
into trouble. How would you have me shave my- 
self ? I have neither soap nor razor. If I am only 
fined, I shall not complain ; but I am 16 afraid 13 I 
shall be imprisoned 10 for life. You are speaking 
of education, sir ; that is not what we are [speaking] 
about now ; it is respecting the actual state of France. 
He will be fined. We are not able to go to war. 

/aire 
What 6 is it all about ? When it respects our own 
interests^ we 9 are not idle. If I be fined, I shall not 
be able to pay. Is that the way you set about it ? 
When it respects doing a good action, he pretends 

le sourd 
(to be deaf). 



I have been fined. I am not able to walk. I 
would go with you, but I am afraid 16 they will talk 
about money. Oh ! no, there will be nothing about 
that. If it respects doing you a service, I will tell 
you frankly, that I am not able to do it. If that is 
(the way) 13 you set about it, you will never finish it. 
comme cela 

That is not the way to set about it. He is not able 
to work. You set very awkwardly about it. As 
soon as I am 25 able to go out, I will go and 15 see 
you. I shall never be able to speak French. Your 
father has got into fine trouble, by (trying) to set up 

en vouloir 
for [a] surgeon. If he had known how to set about 



EXERCISES. 35 

it rightly, he would have succeeded, but I hope 13 
they 9 will not fine him very heavily. 

fort 



IDIOMS. 

To give an account Rendre compte. 

To lay it to, or to accuse of S'en pendre a. 

To take after Tenir de. 

To agree to whatever is proposed Passer par oil Von vent. 

I grant it Ten demeure $ accord. 

To aim, or to take aim at Coucher en joue. 

To alight, or to dismount Mettre pied a terre. 

To be amiss, or to go wrong Aller mal. 

To be angry with En vouloir a. 

To anticipate,or to go and meet Aller au-devant de. 

EXERCISE XIII. 

Give me an account of all 13 you have done. Why 
do you lay it to me ? He takes after his father. 
You must lay it to yourself, if you do not succeed. 
You must give me an account of what you have done 
with my money. He takes after his mother [in] 
that. He lays his misfortunes to every body. I 

de 
gave 39 him an account of what I had done. He 
accuses all his friends of the misfortunes which hap- 
pened 42 to him. If he do not succeed, he will lay it 
to you. He must 7 be mad to* lay it to me. Do 
not lay your misfortunes to me. Come and 15 give 
me an account of what you have done to-day. That 
child takes very much after its father. He must 7 
give mean account of his conduct. I was 8 obliged 
to agree to whatever he proposed. That is true, I 

* See note second, page 3. 



36 EXERCISES. 

grant it, but why lay it to me? He was aiming 
at me. Scarcely had he alighted, when he came 39 

que 
and 15 embraced me. That is not amiss for you. 
You are angry with me, I am sure, you look angry. 
He anticipates my wishes. Let us go and meet him. 
If it be my money 13 you are aiming at, you shall not 
have it. He alighted 39 and came to speak to me. 
You must 8 not be angry with me, it was not my 
fault. If you see that any one aims at his fortune, 
you must 8 give me notice of it. He was (quite) a 

vrai 
Jew, I was 8 obliged to agree to whatever he liked. 
That ought (to be done), I grant it, but who will 

sefaire 
do it ? He agreed 38 to whatever I proposed. 38 Is 
it her fortune 13 you are aiming at ? He alighted and 
came towards me. That is not amiss for a little boy 
like you. God forbid 13 I should be angry with you. 
He is angry with everybody. You ought to antici- 
pate her wishes. He will agree to whatever you 
propose. I plainly see 13 you are angry with me. 
Come, dismount, and come and 15 embrace me. You 
must 8 not be angry with your sister ; she was wrong, 
I grant, but she is sorry for what she has done, and 
you ought to forgive her. 



I am not angry with her ; on the contrary, it is she 
that is angry with me. His affairs go wrong. Tell 
us when you will come, and we will go and meet you. 
I am not angry with him. You must 8 not be angry 
with me for what I have done, I did not intend to 
injure you. We must 7 all give an account of our 
actions. When we 9 do not succeed, we 9 never lay it 
to ourselves. He takes after the family ; but he 



EXERCISES. 37 

takes, I think, a little more after his father than his 
mother. What would you have me do, I want 

subj. 
money ; I must 7 agree to whatever he proposes. I 
grant it ; but why let him see that you are so poor ? 
It is easy to perceive that it is the lady's fortune 13 
he is aiming at ; but I shall take care to (disappoint 

tromper son 
him). We alighted 39 and faced the robbers. I 
attente 

have not been a week from home, and I have already 
got some ready money : that is not amiss, I think, 
for a beginner. Oh ! how angry I am with him, for 
[his] having written that letter ! I cannot stop a 
minute, I must 7 go and meet my sister, who (is to) 

devoir 
arrive about ten o'clock. Come and 15 give me a 
faithful account of what you have done since I saw 
you last. If he lose that customer, he will lay it to 
you ; he already accuses you of his not having 33 suc- 
ceeded in the affair 13 he had undertaken. 41 They 
say 13 I take after my uncle ; he must 7 have been very 
ugly. When we 9 have to do with those usurers, we 
must 7 agree to whatever they propose. I grant it, 
but why have recourse to them ? In passing through 
the forest, we saw 39 behind a tree, two men who 
were taking 31 aim, and who would, no doubt, have 
fired at us, if some horsemen, who were passing 31 at 
the time, had not frightened them. 



We alighted, 39 and, after we had embraced 42 each 
other, (we drew our swords,) and fought 39 like 
mettre Vepee a la main en 

madmen. When business goes wrong, we 9 are in 
desesperes 



38 EXERCISES. 

an ill humour. He looks as if he were angry with 
me. Why should he be angry with you ? If you 
will come and meet me, be at the Elephant and 
Castle at seven o' clock. Has he given you an ac- 
count of the money 13 I sent him ? He lays his 
being 33 a bankrupt to you. He told me that it was 
you 13 he was angry with. His affairs were going 
wrong, when I went to see him last year. Let him 
lay it to his own extravagance. 



IDIOMS. 

To be anxious Etre en peine de. 

To approve Trouver bon. 

To avail one's self of Profiter de. 

To be (followed by an infinitive) Devoir. 

To be (at a place) Se trouver. 

To be anything but N'etre rien moins que. 

It is with as II en est de . . . comme. 

To begin to Se mettre a. 

To believe, to give credit to Aj outer foi a. 

To belong to, to be the duty to\ T , 

To be the place to J ^re a 

EXERCISE XIV. 

I am anxious to know how your brother is. If 
you approve of it, I will accompany you. I will 
avail myself of the opportunity. What are we to 
think of his conduct ? I was not alone in the room ; 
there were five or six gentlemen besides, reading the 
papers. I told 38 him he was anything but an honest 
man. It is with that as with everything he says, one 
cannot believe it. They began to speak all at once. 
They began to chatter like magpies. It was not so 
with us, as we were four, we 39 began to play at 
whist. That is anything but the truth. Am I to 
say my lessons to you, sir, to-day ? I am anxious 



EXERCISES. 39 

to hear how they have received him. He is anxious 

fut. 
to know how I discovered it. If those ladies ap- 
prove of it, we will take tea with them. He availed 39 
himself of my absence to* ruin me in the king's 
mind. What 5 am I to conclude from his silence ? 
France is in a miserable situation. Louis the 
Eleventh was anything but a good king. She. 
began 39 to abuse him like a (Billingsgate woman). 



Give us some advice ; what are we to do ? You see 
the situation 13 we are in ; our enemies will avail them- 
selves of it, and we shall be ruined. 42 Instead of 
giving us any advice, he began to reproach us of the 
little esteem 13 we had for him. Is this hat yours ? 
No, it belongs to my brother. That is not yours, it 
belongs to me. Can one believe what that man 32 
says ? I cannot believe you. That hat belongs 
to me. It is impossible to believe what that man 32 
says, he is so accustomed to tell falsehoods. You 
must never take what belongs to others. That must 7 
belong to you, it is not mine. They 9 will be anxious 
at home to know where I am. If you approve of it, 
I will send for the gentleman who was 38 a witness to 
the transaction. 



What are we to think of the conduct of the present 
ministry, with regard to Portugal ? If you want to 
see the prime minister, you have only 149 to be in 
Hyde Park at six o'clock in the morning. He is 
anything but an honest man. It is with politics, as 
with religion : [the] more we 9 divef into them, [the] 
more we 9 discover our ignorance. He met me yes- 

* See note second, page 3. 
f To dive into, approfondir. 



40 EXERCISES. 

terday ; and (if he did not) begin to abuse me 

ne voila-t-il pas que 
in the middle of the street. How would you have 
one believe 19 so extraordinary a story ? What be- 
longs to you belongs to me likewise. It was your 
place to* correct him. It is not your duty to speak 
to him about it. He was very anxious to know what 
I had said to him in my letter. He did not approve 
of my speaking to him about it. Avail yourself of 

subj. 
his absence. Are we to answer such imperti- 
nent questions ? I have often been in the same 
(predicament). He is anything but your friend. 

cas 
It will be with that, as with everything you under- 
take ; you will lose more than 26 you gain by it. 
When he begins to speak, every one should hold his 
peace. It is a thing 13 I should have some difficulty 
to believe. Is this knife yours, sir ? No, it is my 
brother's. Is it your place to call me to an account 
for my conduct ? It is your place to command, and 
mine to obey. You seem very anxious to know 
where I am going. If you approve of it, sir, we will 
(take a hand at cards) to night. He availed himself 

/aire la partie 
of our (mistake) . What are we to think of his con- 

etouderie 
duct towards his mother ? I have just heard from 
my brother. Indeed ! where is he now ? It was not 
my place to write to him first. 



* Eire a, signifying to be the duty of, requires de before 
the following verb ; otherwise use a. 



EXERCISES. 41 



IDIOMS. 



To be better or to have better Valoir mieux. 

To bid good bye to Dire adieu a. 

To fall out with Se brouiller avec* 

To bleed (neuter) Saigner de. 
To blind or deceive (by false j j dg u drg mx 

appearances) ) ' 

To .box Se battre a coups de poing. 

To train or bring up to Dresser a. 

To care about S' embarrasser de^se soucier de . 

I do not care Cela mest SgaL 

To trouble one's self about Se mettre en peine de. 



EXERCISE XV. 

It is better to die once for all, than 26 to be for 
ever fearing 31 death. 45 Bid me good-bye before you 
go away. Look, how his nose bleeds ! By the re- 
serve 13 I (put on in their presence), I deceived them. 

garder avec eux 
His devout appearance and his pretended goodness 
deceived 39 them. My arm is bleeding. I must bid 
good-bye to all my friends. Is it not 1 better to 
make [people] happy than unhappy ? Is it not 
better to do good than evil ? He came yesterday to 
bid me good-bye. My nose bled 38 this morning 
for three quarters of an hour. He blinds every one 
pendant 

by the parties he gives. They 9 do not box in 
France. Do you see those two dogs ? I am going 
to train them for hunting. It is better not to talk 
at all, than 26 to expose one's self by talking non- 
sense. I have bid good-bye to all my friends, for I 
set out to-morrow morning. His mouth bleeds. It 
is only to blind you, that he treats you so kindly. 
Do you know [how] to box ? Let us bring him up 



42 EXERCISES. 

ourselves to glory. He has fallen out with all his 
friends. He fell out with him before all the com- 
pany. We have fallen out with them. Do not fall 
out with me. He must 7 come and bid me good-bye. 
It is better to come late than never. He has fallen 
out with his father. I will come and 15 bid you good- 
bye before I go away.* Do not go away without 

de 
bidding me good-bye. He does not care about that. 
He does not care about us. He does not trouble 
himself about what mayf happen to us. I care 
much about it. 14 Provided you are 20 comfortable, 
bien 

you do not trouble yourself about others. Much 
he cared about what you said. I care very little 
about those things. What does he care about what 

bien 
you say ? Is it 1 not better to live happy than rich ? 
Go and 15 bid your papa good-bye. It seems that 
he had nothing to do, and 13 fell out with me toj 
amuse himself. 



He struck 39 his head against the wall, and his nose 
bled for full an hour. It was toj blind the people 
and strengthen their own party. People 9 are some- 
times killed by boxing. If that dog were mine, I 
should bring it up for hunting. I care very little 
about what he can say of me. I will send you into 
the country. I do not care. I care very little 
what will become of me. If you think it will get 
abroad, you had better go and 15 tell him it yourself; 
it will be better for him to hear it from you, than 



* See note, page 27. t See note, page 32. 

% See note second, page 3. 



EXERCISES. 43 

from (any one else), but (have your wits about you). 

tout autre etre sur ses gardes 

You had better go to him yourself; but above all, 
do not let him know that I had any hand in 
it; 14 (be advised by me), go to him yourself, for 

croyez-moi 
(when all comes to all) what [great] harm have you 

apres tout 
done? Go and 16 bid your friends good-bye, after 
that come to me at your father's. My wife has fallen 
out with all my relations. My heart bleeds at it. 
It is to blind his neighbours, that he pretends to 
live so sparingly. Do the boys 2 box in France? 
They 9 have recourse to very cruel methods in order 
to train horses for racing. It is better not to let 
(the cat out of the bag). It would be better not to 

divulguer le secret 
give him what he asks ; remember that (charity be- 

la charite 
gins at home). If you will not 

Men ordonnee commence par soi-meme. 
lend me the money 13 I want, I do not care, I will 
try to get it somewhere else. Do not trouble your- 
self about what shall become of me. Do you know 
it is my son who has just bid me good-bye ? You 
would* (make me believe next, that the moon is 

m? en fair e accroire 
made of green cheese) ; he is no [more] like you 
(than chalk is like cheese) . 
pas du tout 



See note, page 32. 



44 EXERCISES. 



IDIOMS. 

To clap hands Battre des mains. 

To clear away Desservir. 

To lay the cloth Mettre la nappe. 

To be in collusion with ( S '? nte ?*" ™ e °' 

\htre a intelligence avec. 

To come to an engagement 1 -n 

To come to blows ) En vemr aux mams - 

To be comfortable Se trover bien. 

To be at stake (impersonal) II y va de. 

To confine one's self to ) , . . v 

To stick, to keep to ) Sententra. 

To be of consequence to Importer de. 

To crown Mettre le comble a. 



EXERCISE XVI. 

They 9 clapped 40 hands at every word he said. 40 
You should* have heard how they clapped. They 9 
will clear away, whilst we are gone to take a walk 

fut. 
in the park. Is the 10 cloth laid ? My valet was in 
collusion with my steward. They were in collusion. 
They soon came to an engagement. I am very com- 
fortable here, I shall not move. Your interest, your 
glory, is at stake. Stick to that. I will adhere to 
what I have said. He did not confine 39 himself 
to that, he carried things still further. Why do 

pousser 
you not go, since your interest is at stake ? He 
was so comfortable where he was, that he would* 
not go away. The two armies were ready to come 
to an engagement. You must 7 be in collusion with 
my attorney to rob me. Had they 9 cleared away ? 
No, the cloth had not yet been laid. 10 You should 

* See note, page 32. 



EXERCISES. 45 

have heard them clapping, I applauded 40 too ; but 
you will not catch me at it again. You have de- 
prived him of liberty ; you ought to confine yourself 
to that, and let him live. It was of great conse- 
quence to us, that he should 18 know nothing about 
it. To* crown my misfortunes, a malignant fever 
deprived me of my wife. It was the loss of my only 
son that crowned 39 my misery. [That] is of [very] 
little consequence. [It] is of no consequence. [Of] 
what consequence is it to me ? [Of] what conse- 
quence is it ? That will complete my happiness. 
That will crown my wishes. It is the custom to 
clap hands, when we 9 are satisfied with an actor. 
Let us go and 15 take our dessert in the parlour ; 
the servant will then be able to clear away in the 
dining-room. Lay the cloth in the drawing-room 
for twelve persons. Those two men are in collusion 
to rob you. 



After having abused one another, they soon came 
to blows. Since you are so comfortable where you 
are, you would do wrong to leave. It is not only 
imprudent, what you have done, but do you know 13 
(it is a hanging matter) ? Your life is at stake. They 

il y va de la corde 
will not confine themselves to threats. [Of] what 
consequence is it, that it should be 10 known ? 19 Do 
you hear how they 9 are clapping hands? Have 
they 9 not yet cleared away ? I willf not have the 
cloth laid 10 in this room any more, it is too cold 

subj. 
here. Servants are in collusion with one another to 
rob their masters. If the constables had not inter- 
fered, they would soon have come to blows. I was 
* See note, page 3. f See note, page 32. 



46 EXERCISES. 

very comfortable in that house, 'till my master was 

subj. 
[a] bankrupt ; as soon as I heard that, (no longer pipe 

point d y argent 
no longer dance) you know, I quitted 39 immediately. 
point de Suisse 

As my dinner was at stake, I made haste. As I 
was tired of (dancing attendance on) his lord- 

faire le pied de grue chez 
ship, in the middle of winter. I confined myself to 

coeur 
the situation which had been 10 offered me at a 
clothier's. It was of great consequence 18 to us 
that the business should not (get wind), but a ser- 

se savoir 
vant whom I turned away, let the cat out of the 
bag. To crown my misfortunes, my uncle, who had 
promised to make me his heir, died intestate. When 
they 9 have 25 cleared away, come to me in my room. 
It is of great consequence that you should 18 know 
what I am about to do. My son is the only one 
wanting to crown my joy ; I hope he is happy. You 
will do right to stick to what you have said. 



IDIOMS. 

To bring good luck Porter bonheur. 

To bring ill or bad luck Porter malheur. 

To deprive oneself of \ „*. 
To get out of the way J 
To deprive of or take away from Oter a. 

To do without Se passer de. 

To do with Tirer parti de. 

To dwell on one's mind Tenir au cosur a. 

To enable Mettre en etat de. 

To enter into conversation Lier conversation. 

To envy Porter cnvie a. 

To escape from S'echapper de. 



EXERCISES. 47 



EXERCISE XVII. 

The miser deprives himself of what [is] necessary. 

le 
He did not deprive him of life. I can very well do 
without those dainties. What do you think of doing 

Quel 
with that ? "What dwells most on my mind, is 
[the] having lost my watch. I will enable you to 
live at ease. I do very well without beer; why 
should not you? They 9 took 39 from him all he 
possessed. I shall never be able to do anything 
with that lad. I have deprived myself of what is 
necessary, in order to enable him to establish him- 
self. Get away from before the fire. Get out of 
the light. Get out of (my sight). Take two from 

jour devant moi 

five [and there] remain three. You will not be able 

reste 
to do without me. One 9 cannot do without bread. 
That seems to dwell on your mind. That will bring 
me good luck. That always brings me bad luck. 
You have enabled me to be of service to you. 
Take nine from sixteen, there will remain seven. 
Get away from there. I hope 13 that will bring him 
good luck. You have deprived yourself of the 
power of serving your friends. If you wish to 

vouloir 
enjoy good health, you must 8 do without wine. I 
do without wine ! never will I do without it ; you 
have enabled me to purchase some, and I will drink 
some all my lifetime. What can I do with that 
lad ; was 38 [the like] ever seen : he cannot do with- 
out wine. I entered 39 into conversation with them. 
Far from envying me, you ought to pity me- He 



48 EXERCISES. 

has escaped from prison. Every one envies him. I 
wished 40 to enter into conversation with him, but 
he shunned me. He made 39 his escape from the 
tower, dressed in woman's [clothes] . We had soon 
entered into conversation. That boy envies all his 
companions. You must 8 not envy the rich, they are 
not happier than you. He would 39 * not enter into 
conversation with me. 



That has brought me bad luck. You will see if 
that does not bring you good look. Do not imagine, 
sir, that I am going 19 to deprive myself of what is 
necessary to provide for your extravagant expenses. 
Get out of [the] way, sir, if you please : this is my 

la 
place. How can you do without me ? What would 
you have me do with such a lad ? Let not that 

subj. 
dwell on your mind ; I will pay the debt for you. 
I only asked him to lend me [a little] money, to 
enable me to be doing 31 something, and he has 
refused me. How can one enter into conversation 
with people 13 one does not know ? You are wrong 
to envy me, I assure you, I am more wretched than 
yourself. Three men have escaped from prison. 
He deprives himself of the necessaries of life for 
his children. Get away from there, that I may 
sit down. After he had deprived himself of every 
se mettre 

thing, and had not a farthing left, he went and 15 
begged for his children. From fifteen take four, 
there remain eleven. He will be deprived 10 of his 
pension; he will be reduced to pass the summer 

* See note, p. 32. 



EXERCISES. 49 

without victuals, and the winter without [a] cloak. I 

manger 
could rather do without meat than bread. (I should 

je voudrais 
like) you to tell me what can be done with so bad a 
que subj. 

boy. The loss he has sustained^ 1 still dwells on his 
mind. It is you who have enabled me to get my 

gagner mon 
livelihood. We were 39 not long before we entered 

pain 
into conversation. Far from envying you, my friend, 
I pity you. He must 7 have escaped from prison 
plaindre 

during the night. Will you have the goodness to 
get away from before the fire. She has deprived 
herself of everything for her children. We should 
be much better, if we were to do without meat once 
or twice a-week. What can be done with that rub- 
bish ? I am sorry 13 that dwells so much on his 

subj. 
mind. That will enable you to take a little shop. 
He will* never enter into conversation with any one. 



IDIOMS. 

To escape (dangers, &c.) Echapper a. 

To escape (neuter) Se sauver. 

To have a narrow escape L' echapper belle. 

To be exhausted N'en pouvoir plus. 

To fall into (snares) Donner dans. 

To find fault with Trouver a redire d. 

To knock, or strike one's head against Donner de la tete contre. 

To allude to Faire allusion a. 

To beg (neuter) Demander Vaumone. 

As swift as an arrow, or as lightning Comme un eclair* 

* See note, page 32. 

I) 



50 EXERCISES. 



EXERCISE XVIII. 

You have been very fortunate to escape the dangers 
that threatened you. He escaped with his household 

penates 
gods. His prey has escaped him. He fell into 
the snare that had been 10 laid for him. You always 
have some fault to find. He fell into the snares that 
had been 10 laid 41 for him. He is quite exhausted, 
poor man ; support him. You had a very narrow 
escape. What have you to find fault with ? Have 
we not had a narrow escape ? Escape, if you can. 
Take care, or else she will escape you. I will escape, 

bien 
if I can. I say, Peter, we have had a narrow 

dis done 
escape ; have not we ? I had 40 been running for 
two hours; I was quite exhausted. You will see 
that he will fall into the snare. He must 7 find 

panneau 
fault, or he would not be satisfied. There is not a 
thing 13 I do, but he finds fault with it. Even 
subj. que quand 

though you should do it as he tells you, he would 
meme 

find fault with it. That shall not escape me, if I 
can help it. Let us escape together. What fault 
can you find with it ? You shall not escape me 
again, I warrant you. Let [him] who is able, escape. 

en repondre 
What a narrow escape we have had ; have we not ? 
I ran 38 until I was quite exhausted. (A burnt 

chat echaude 
child dreads the fire), he will not fall into the same 
craint Veau froide 



EXERCISES. 51 

snare again, depend upon it. I assure you 13 there 
will be no fault to find with it. I do not care, I 
will* see it, I will not buy a (pig in a poke). Do 

chat en poche 
you remember the evening 13 I put the candle out, 
how, in seeking your way out, you struck your 
head against the wall ? Yes, yes, I well rememberf 
it; 14 but do not (rake up old grievances). The 

reveiller le chat qui dort 
poet alludes to an old story. That man, formerly 
so rich, is actually obliged to beg. He set off like 
lightning. The arrow flew like lightning. He has 
escaped the severity of the law. I had made up my 
mind to escape on the first opportunity. I have had 

a 

a narrow escape. The remembrance of the danger 

I have just escaped, (makes my hair stand on 

me fait dresser les cheveux a 

end). I have just been so long a walk, that I am 

la tete 

quite exhausted. I do not think 13 he will fall into 
the snare. You must be finding fault, or it would 

vous ne seriez 
not be you. In trying to go and 15 feed his 
pas content vouloir 

horse, without a light, he ran 39 his nose against 
the wall, and returned all covered with blood. 
It is to the story of Pyramus and Thisbe he alludes. 
Do you see yonder man begging ? last year he was 
richer than I. As soon as he perceived us, he was 
off like a shot. He never opens his mouth but to 

que 

* See note, page 32. 

f Se rappeler, to remember, does not require a preposition 
after it ; therefore it must be translated by le : Je me le rap- 
pelle bien. 

B 2 



52 EXERCISES. 

find fault. His name has escaped my [memory] . 
Some imprudent words escaped 39 him. If he remain 
to dinner, it will only 149 be to find fault. What could 
I do ? I was quite exhausted : they were four [to] one 
against [me] ; I was obliged to surrender. 



IDIOMS. 

To find it worth one's while Y trouver son compte. 

To set fire to Mettre le feu a. 

To stand firm Tenir bon. 

God forbid A Dieu ne plaise (subj.) 

To be friends again with Se remettre avec. 

To get out of trouble Se tirer d' affaire. 

To get out of a scrape Se tirer d'embarras. 

To get into bed Se mettre au lit. 

To expect (neuter) S'attendre a. 



EXERCISE XIX. 

I did not expect that. Grant him what he asks ; 
you will find it worth your while. They glory in 
setting fire to their neighbours' houses. If you had 
stood firm ; you would still be in your situation. God 
forbid, my friend, that I should be angry ivith your 
father. God forbid that I should find fault with it. 
He suspects that some one has set 17 fire to his 
house. Stand firm, they will not be able to make 
you leave. He will not find it worth his while. 
Before I lend you the money 13 you want, let us see 
whether I shall find it worth my while. Take care, 
you will set fire to the house. If he had stood firm, 
he would have succeeded. God forbid that I should 
hate any one. I have made friends again with your 
brother. You must first know whether it will be 
worth your while. They fired the city in several 
parts. If you had been firm, my friend, that would 



EXERCISES. 53 

not have happened, God forbid, madam, that I should 
be as poor as you imagine. He is friends again with 
his brother-in-law. I am (over ears) in trouble, 

jusqu'au cou 
and how to get out of it I do not know. If he 
get out of this scrape, it will be a miracle. Come, 

par 
get into bed, sir, directly. I did not expect to find 
you here. The duke, addressing himself to the 
marquis, said, I suspect your valet of having set 
fire to my house. If that gentleman, who affects 
the manners of a diplomatist, had been firm, he would 
have married the duke's niece. You know that my 
mother died two days after having given me birth ; if 
you will bear witness to that, you will, perhaps, be 
able to get me out of trouble. I know whom you 
owe your birth to, and, I think, I shall be able to 
get you out of this scrape. I never expected to see 
the town again where I was born. 



IDIOMS. 

To give way to Se laisser alter a. 

To repair to or to go to Se rendre a. 

To go to (see) Alter trouver. 

To go on one's own way Alter son train. 

To have it, or to hit it Y etre. 

To have just Venir de. 

I have left. // me reste. 

To happen to (before an inf.) Venir a. 



EXERCISE XX. 

I gave way to my passions in my youth ; but I am 
quite cured now, and I am sure you will not catch 
me at it again. I will go to his house at ten ; I 



54 EXERCISES. 

consider him rather crazy ; but I do not care, you 

tenir 
will find me there about ten. Come to me this 
evening, and I will tell you why I distrust your 
brother. Your brother still goes on in his old way ; 
yesterday he lost me two hundred guineas, which 

souffler 
I might have got honestly; if he continue to 

gagner 
pursue so dishonest a conduct, he will incur the 
hatred of every body. He takes a little after his 
father. Yes, you have it, I have just told him so. 
You (were engaged) with him, I think, when I 

etre aux prises 
entered. 38 I have this consolation, that I never 
set him the example. If he should happen to hear 
donner 

that we are friends, he will do every thing in his 
power (to set us by the ears). The man who gives 

brouiller 
way to his passions, is unworthy of life. He had 

vivre 
thought they would disobey his orders; but they 
repaired thither immediately. I will go and 15 see 
the marquis, and I will relate the adventure to him. 
You still go on your own way; I perceive that 
nothing is able to change you. Have you guessed 
why I did that ? No ; but I think 13 I have it now : 
it was to blind him, was it not ? Three men have 
just been 10 hanged. If I give you all the money I 
have, what shall I have left ? You will have the 
pleasure left of having done a good action once in 
your lifetime ; and of having obliged an old friend. 

ancien 
If your mamma should happen to hear that I took 

mener 



EXERCISES. 55 

you to the theatre, she would never forgive me. She 
is sure to know, therefore you had better go to her 
immediately, and tell her yourself. I have just been 
told that there has been a riot at Lyons. Where 
shall I put what I have left to say ? If your papa 
should happen to know that you have not been to 
church this morning, you will catch it, he will give 
it you. You are mistaken, I have just told him, 
en 

and he is quite satisfied with the account I have just 
given him of my conduct this morning. 



IDIOMS. 

To hear from Recevoir des nouvelles de. 

To take ill Trouver mauvais. 

To be inclined to Eire porte «. 

To take a joke Entendre raillerie. 

To abuse Dire des injures a. 

To be a judge of Se connaitre a, or en. 

To add fuel to fire Mettre le feu aux etoupes. 

To go and join Alter sejoindre a. 

EXERCISE XXI. 

It is three months since I have heard from my 
brother. I hope he will not take it ill that I 
meddle with his affairs. On the contrary, I am 

a 
inclined to think that he will be much obliged to you 
for it. He is a man who does not joke in those 
matters. After having abused one another, they, at 
last, parted good friends. Are you a judge of jew- 
ellery ? When you have 25 heard from your uncle, 
you will come and 15 acquaint me with the news, will 



56 EXERCISES. 

you not ? Do not take it ill, if I interest myself in 
your affairs. I was inclined to think he would have 
joined our party : but he has gone and joined the 
opposite one. / have just heard from France. Per- 
haps he will take it ill, if I write without asking his 
permission. I should be inclined to believe it. He 
is a man who can [give a joke and] take a joke. 
What, after abusing me, as she has just been doing, 
you would have me see her home ! Are you also 

reconduire subj. 
going to join my enemies, to ruin me totally ? Be a 
better judge of people. Are you a judge of precious 

en gens 
stones ? You must often let me hear from vou 

me donner de vos nouvelles 
during our separation. Have you heard lately from 
your uncle ? I hope you will not take it ill, madam, 
if I act as I please for once. I am inclined to think 

subj. 
that you had some hand in that business. Sir, I 
assure you I had no hand in it at all, and that it is a 
subject on which I am not disposed to joke. How 
long is it since you heard from Jamaica ? What a 

Comme 
judge you are ! One must 7 be a good judge to have 
to do with those people. She abused me in the 
middle of the street. That is adding fuel to fire. 
To add fuel to fire, she spoke 39 of the affairs that 
had taken place the night before. 



EXERCISES. 57 



IDIOMS. 

Just the thing for you Votre affaire. 

To kick Downer des coups de pied a. 

To know how Savoir. 

Not to know Ignorer, 

To know Ne pas ignorer. 

To laugh in one's face Rire au nez a. 

To leave to S'en remettre a. 

To depend upon Se reposer sur, 

I long 11 me tarde de, 

EXERCISE XXII. 

I have just the thing for you. Do you wish me 
to kick you ? Do you know how to play on the 
flute ? I do not know what you have done, but 
I know that your father is very angry with you. 
You know that at your uncle's death I lent 39 you a 
hundred pounds. He had the insolence to laugh 
in my face. I shall leave it to your integrity. You 
will do wrong to depend upon the promise he has 
made 41 you. If you will leave it to me, you shall 
have reason to be satisfied. I long to see your 
lovely children again. Here, here is just the thing 

Tenez 
for you. After they had kicked me until 20 they were 
tired, they threw 39 me into a ditch ; happily it was a 
dry one, or I should have been drowned. You know 
how to tell a good story. I know not where you 
have been since I saw you; but [if I were] to judge 
by your manners, you have not frequented the best 
society. Stay, I think I have just the thing for you. 
I should really feel a pleasure in kicking that scoun- 
drel. What ! do you 3 not know how to dance yet ? 

Comment 
I really do not know what you mean, I know it. 
d 5 



58 EXERCISES. 

What did 38 you reply to him ? I ? I laughed 38 in his 
face. Give me that, it is just the thing 13 I want. 
Do not kick me. Do you know 1 how to do that ? 
It is a good thing not to know how to deceive. I do 
not know the reason of his silence. He laughed in 
my face, and went away. I leave it to your good 
faith. I long to see your brother. He does not 
know what people 9 think of him. I leave it to you. 
If ever I meet him, I will kick him. He does not 
know how to do it. 



IDIOMS. 

To be long before Tarder a. 

To want with (a thing) Vouloir de. 

To want with (a person) Vouloir a. 

To mind Tenir eompte de. 

My name is Je me nomme. 

To ..... nevertheless Ne laisser pas de. 

To have no objection to Ne dcmander pas mieux que de. 

To give reason Donner lieu, or sujei de. 

To bear ill-will S avoir mauvais gre a. 

EXERCISE XXIII. 

He will not be long before he comes. What do 
you want with me ? He does not mind at all what 
is said to him. He will not be long before he dis- 
covers the fraud. What 5 do you want with that 
gentleman? What 5 do you want with that pen- 
knife ? His name is Nicholas, and hers Catharine. 
Although 20 he says that he does not care about 
going, I nevertheless think he would have no objec- 
tion to go. I have not given you reason to be dis- 
satisfied with me, but you have given me reason to 
be dissatisfied with you. God forbid that I should 



EXERCISES. 59 

bear you any ill-will for what you have said. What 
subj. Comment 

is your name? My name is Peter. I nevertheless 
went 40 occasionally to see him. You will see that he 
could bear me no ill-will for it. I have no objection 
to accompany you. The winter will not be long 
before it comes. It seems that you do not mind 
what your parents 32 say to you. What is your 
cousin's name ? His name is Henry. Although 20 
I told your brother that I had?^ no hand in the 
business, he nevertheless thinks me his enemy. I 
have no objection to pay you/ but you must 8 abate 
something. I have never given you any reason to 
complain of me. I bear you no ill-will for it. I 
have no objection to do you that service, but you 
must 8 not mention it to my father. Although 20 he 
does not like me, he nevertheless comes now and 
then to see me. How long she is coming ! What 5 

Que 
do you want with my watch ? What 5 does that 
woman want with me ? I nevertheless think he is 
guilty. He does not mind at all what is said to 
him. What is her name ? What is the name of 
that girl ? Her name is Elizabeth. 



IDIOMS. 

To be obliged to Savoir bon gre a. 

To be offended at Prendre en mauvaise part. 

To be particular Y regarder de pres. 

To profit by Profiter de. 

To pump Tirer les vers du nez a. 

To be satisfied with. or\ ,, , 

n , . ..i ' > oe contenter de. 

I o put up with J 

To put up with, to bear Essuypr. 

To put up to Mettre au fait. 

To have rather Aimer mieux. 



60 EXERCISES. 

EXERCISE XXIV. 

You must 8 not be offended at what I am going to 
tell you. I am much obliged to my parents for 

de 
having severely chastised me. Among friends, one 9 
should not be so particular. Endeavour to profit 
by the lessons 13 I give you. He wanted 40 to pump 
me, but he found 39 himself caught. I am satisfied 
with little. I must 7 put up with what is given 10 
me. I was 8 obliged to put up with all their ill- 
treatment. I will put you up to it in a few words. 
I had rather do without it, than 26 have it at that 
price. I had rather laugh than 26 cry. You must 
put him up to it. I am 7 obliged to put up with a 
long discourse every morning, that 23 I could very 
well do without. The Romans were satisfied with 
depriving their enemies of the power of doing them 
an injury. He went to see my father in order 
to pump him. Are you 3 always so particular ? I 
am much obliged to you for your good opinion. He 
is offended at every thing. You are very particular. 
I have profited by your advice. It was to pump 
me that he came 39 to see me. Nature is satisfied 
with [what is] necessary. Reason is satisfied with 
[what is] useful. I was 39 obliged 8 to put up with a 
long lecture every night, before I went to bed. It 
will not be difficult to put him up to it. I had 
rather die than 26 offend you. Who 5 would not 
rather live happy than miserable? We 9 spend 
money like fools when we 9 are young, but we 9 
are more particular when we 9 grow old. The wise 
man knows how to profit by the follies of others. 
He who knows how to be satisfied with little, needs 
never fear poverty. Notwithstanding, I had rather 
be rich than poor. 



EXERCISES. 61 



IDIOMS. 

To set sail Mettre a la voile. 

To take satisfaction for Tirer raison de. 

To save the life of Sauver la vie a. 

To make one's self master of Se rendre maitre de. 

To seize on Se saisir de. 

To serve Rendre service a. 

To serve as, or for Servir de. 

To set out on a journey Se mettre en route. 

To share Prendre part a. 



EXERCISE XXV. 

We were 39 not long before we set sail. He will 
take satisfaction for that affront. I have saved his 
life three times. The enemies have made 41 them- 
selves masters of all the strong places. All his 
goods have been 10 seized. Will you 1 serve me? 
That room serves for a study. After having bid 
good-bye to all, we set 39 out on our journey. She 
shared all my misfortunes. You can serve 1 me, if 
you will. That will serve me as an excuse. We 
set 39 out on our journey at three o' clock in the after- 

de 
noon. My brother had 38 no share in that transac- 
tion. Your husband has saved my brother's life. 
That serves him as a pretext. We set 39 sail [on] 
the twelfth of August, one thousand eight hun- 
dred and fifty-one. I shall know how to take 
satisfaction for that insult. He 130 who, at the 
risk of his [own] life, saves that of another, is a 
courageous man. They had soon made 41 themselves 
masters of the town. After having seized on all his 
goods, they put 39 him into prison. Try to get 
acquainted with him, he may be able to serve you. 
Their cakes served 39 them for plates. We set 39 out 



62 EXERCISES. 

on our journey without a penny. You will have 
reason to repent the share you have had 41 in that 
business. We shall set sail to-morrow morning. 
You have saved my life. After having made 41 them- 
selves masters of the city, they put all the inha- 

passer 
bitants to the sword. The enemies seized 39 on all 

au fil de Vepee 
my horses. If I can serve you, do not spare me, I 
am entirely (yours). Come, let us set out; if it 

a votre service 
should rain, we have umbrellas. He seems to share 
all my troubles. As we wanted a surgeon, before 
we set sail, we went and 15 seized the village doctor. 
His money will save his life. He made himself 
master of all our ships. 



IDIOMS. 

To shelter Mettre a Vabri, or a convert de. 

To fire on Faire feu sur. 

To sink Couler a fond. 

To sit down to meals Se mettre a table. 

To make game of Se jouer de. 

To stand Etre debout. 

To do for, or to be to Tenir lieu de. 

To succeed Venir a bout de. 

To suspect Se douter de. 

EXERCISE XXVI. 

We are going to sink. Sit down to dinner. Let 
us take shelter. They fired on us in the middle 
of the night. Your silence will not shelter you from 
his revenge. Are you making game of me ? The 



EXERCISES. 63 

gentlemen were standing by the side of the ladies. 
My uncle is a father to me. He did not suspect 
the trick that had been 10 played him. Let us 
shelter ourselves from the rain. The soldiers fired 
on the people. The ship is going to sink. Come,, 
gentlemen, sit down to dinner. The rascal was 
making game of me. We were standing all the 
evening. You are now a father, a mother, a husband, 
every thing to me. If you do not proceed more 
quickly, you will never end. I have succeeded in 

a 
persuading him to accompany us. He did not sus- 
pect it. It is difficult to shelter one's self from 
slander. They thought the ship was going to sink. 
We set down to dinner with a good appetite, but the 
ragout that was served 10 us, soon made 39 us lose it. 
I suspected the trick 13 he was going to play me. I 
do not suffer [any] one 9 to make game of me so. I 
was standing behind the door. That will do for a 
tablecloth for you. What ! when it is pouring with 

Comment 
rain, you would not have me shelter myself ! If you 

que subj. 

make game of me in that manner, I shall know 
{how] to be revenged for it. He will never suspect 
it. You shall be a daughter to me. I suspected 13 
he was going to do that. He is toiling to get rich, 
but he will never succeed. The most prudent can- 
not always shelter themselves from the misfortunes 
of this life. He is in prison. I suspected so, he is 
an imprudent [man], who well deserves it. 



64 



EXERCISES. 



IDIOMS. 



To take into one s head, or} c , . , 
rp , i , ,« . > o avtser ae. 

To take upon ones self / 

To take from (by violence) Enlever a. 

To thank Rendre graces a. 

To treat (ill or well) En user avec. 

To trust Se fier a. 

To turn out of doors Mettre a la porte, or ckasser. 

To be of no use Ne servir de rien. 

To want, or to be deficient in II manque a. 

EXERCISE XXVII. 

Do not take upon yourself to do that. I have had 
my treasure taken 10 from me. Thank heaven that 
they 9 did not take away your life. You treat your 
sister very unpolitely. I will not trust you again. 
If you answer me, I will turn you out of doors. 

repliquer 
It was of no use my representing to him the wrong 13 
he did me ; he still went on his own way. You have 
only given me nineteen sous, there wants one to 
make a franc. What 6 have you taken into your 
head now? They 9 have taken his daughter away 
from him. I thank God that I had 38 no hand in 

a 
that business. I thank you a thousand times for 
your kindness. Do you 3 treat every body so ? Is 
that 3 the way 13 you treat your brother ? Trust to 
me. I have been 10 turned out of doors this morn- 
ing, for having broken a dozen eggs. It is of no use 
for me to complain to her father, he is prejudiced 
against me. He is only deficient in courage. What 5 
are you in want of ? This pack of cards is not com- 
plete ; the ace of clubs is wanting. She has taken 
into her head to go all alone to Paris. The robbers, 



EXERCISES. 65 

after having taken his portmanteau from him, and 
emptied his pockets, let him go. I thank you for 
having rid me of that scoundrel. If you treat your 
friends so, how do you treat your enemies ? Yes, 
trust to that. If you do that you will soon be 
turned out pf doors. It will be of no use for you to 
swear to him that you are innocent, he will not 
believe you. You are very deficient in politeness. 
All my jewels have been 10 taken from me. I have 
just turned my servant out of doors ; the jade has 

la coquine 
broken all my china. My waistcoat wants two 
buttons. I cannot pay you, I am three shillings 
deficient. You ought to thank heaven for it. How 
many leaves are wanting to that book ? You are not 
in want of anything. 



IDIOMS. 

To ache Avoir mal a. 

To act foolishly Faire une folie, or des folies. 

To affect the manners of Trancher de. 

As it seems, as I see A ce qu'il par ait, a ce que je vols. 

Too bad Trop fort. 

To be to (i. e. to concern) Faire a. 

To be up to Etre au fait. 

To break out (a fire) Prendre a. 

To catch at it Y prendre. 

To catch it En avoir. . 

To strike colours Baisser pavilion, 

EXERCISE XXVIII. 

My head aches. My teeth ache. You have 
acted foolishly in that. He affects the manners of a 
lord. You have some money, it seems. That is 



66 



EXERCISES. 



rather too bad. What 5 is that to you ? He is not 
up to it. A fire broke out last night in my neigh- 
bour's house. If you catch me at it again, I will 
give you leave to laugh at me. You will catch it, if 
you are 10 seen here. Before you, I must 7 always 
strike colours. I have written so much, that really 
my fingers ache. If you act so foolishly, you must 8 
not be surprised if you are ill. You are, I see, 

avez 
rather cracked. Upon my word, that is too 
V esprit un peu timbre. Vraiment 

bad. What 5 is that to me? That is nothing to 
you. If you had been up to it, you would have 
laughed too. If a fire were to break out in the 
neighbourhood, what 5 would you do ? I have lent 
him money, but you will not catch me at it again. 
He will catch it famously, if he is 10 taken. (I give in) 
joliment se rendre 

I must strike colours. I have walked so much to- 
day that my feet ache. You have acted very fool- 
ishly. You have, it seems, more leisure than I, yet 
you do not write to me so often as I write to you. 
It is too bad to tell him to his face that you will not 
pay him. You do not understand anything about it, 
you are not up to it. If a fire were to break out be- 
low stairs, which way would you escape ? If I catch 
you at it, I will pull your 122 ears. You will catch it, 
if it be 10 known that you are playing, instead of 
going to school. You are completely beaten, you 
must strike coloilrs. I ache all over me. You 

Avoir 
look better, I see, than [you were] the last time 13 
meilleure mine 

I had the pleasure of seeing you. Is not that too 
bad? 



EXERCISES. 67 



IDIOMS. 

To dress one's self. Faire sa toilette. 

To drive over, or go over Passer sur. 

To be at expense Faire des depenses. 

To be at the expense of Faire les frais de. 

To give it En dormer. 

To have like to Penser. 

To leave in the lurch Planter la. 

To make the most of Faire valoir. 

Merely, only Ne faire que. 

How is it possible to Le moyen de. 

There is no possibility of // riy a pas moyen de. 

Not to see at all Ne coir goutte. 

To understand how to S' entendre a. 



EXERCISE XXIX. 

She is gone 42 up stairs to dress herself. You are 
en haut 
a long time dressing. How long he is dressing ! 
The wheel went over his body. The coach drove 
over his leg. He is at a great expense. I will be at 
the expense of the journey. Who is to be at the ex- 
pense of it ? I will give it you, if I catch you. He 
will give it him, if he catch him. I had like to have 
fallen. He left me in the lurch. He knows how to 
make the most of his talents. I only touched him. 
I merely took it into my hand to look at it. How is 
it possible to do it ? When I am 25 dressed, I shall 
be at your command. I fell 39 backwards, and a 

a la renverse 
cabriolet drove over my left arm. I have been 
at some extra expense to-day. Who will be at the 
expense of that undertaking ? I will give it him if 
he do it again. I had like to have broken my neck. 
You must 8 learn to make the most of your money. 
I merely said a word, and the affair was settled. 



68 EXERCISES. 

How is it possible to learn my lesson, when so much 
noise is made? 10 There is no possibility of persuad- 
ing him. I [could] not see at all. He understands 
how to flatter. The lady will come down as soon as 
she is 25 dressed. A coach went over his body, and 
killed him. I have been at so much expense to-day, 
that I have no money left. Who 5 will be at the ex- 
pense of your cure? She had liked to have fainted. 
How is it possible for me to get out of trouble ? 
There is no possibility of succeeding. When you 
want 25 his assistance, he will leave you in the lurch. 
The expense you are at will soon empty your purse. 
I had like (to have died) with laughter. She 

crever 
understands well how to cook; I am very fond of her 
apple tarts. 



AN EXERCISE 

ON IDIOMS OF RARER OCCURRENCE, OR OF LESS IMPORT- 
ANCE, THE FRENCH OF WHICH MAY BE FOUND IN 
THE INDEX AT THE END OF THE BOOK. 



We abstain from meat to-day. Are we 1 agreed, is 
it a bargain ? They applauded everything 13 tie 

fait ? 

said. 40 This meat has been 10 baked. He is always 
talking of niusic^ it is his hobby. Bear witness to 
the truth of what I say. I am quite benumbed. My 
mother died 39 three weeks after she had given birth 
to me. My father owed* his birth to a peasant girl 
of the environs of Paris. Bolt the door. Is the 
door bolted? We were bound for Jamaica. We 
must 8 know [febw] to bridle our passions. You are 

ses 

over careful of yourself It seems you have bought 
that shawl very cheap. He is very clever on the 
piano. I lived* in clover all the while I was there. 
A thought strikes me : suppose you pretend to be my 
brother. Your honour is concerned. He received 
me coolly, and deprived me of any inclination to pay 
him a second visit. Take care that this letter be de- 
livered to him. / had 38 some difficulty to put an end 
to their dispute. He wanted to make me believe 
that he had just arrived from Algiers ; pooh ! said I, 

bon 



70 EXERCISES. 

that will not do, I am not 10 to be caught so. He 
has drawn upon himself the hatred of all his friends. 
He was driven out of the town. We stopped 39 and 
faced the robbers. That colour soon fades. The 
kingdom of Heaven/^// 39 to the lot of Jupiter. He 
fell upon the fish, as if he had not eaten for a week.* 
The weather is going to be fine again. He drinks 
like a fish. I forgive you your rudeness. You 
ought to forgive your brother. All I wish now, is to 
get safe out of that business. He takes it for granted. 
He seems to have a spite against you. / have a wife 
and three small children on my hands. That wine 
is heady. He seems to have that at heart. I cannot 
help it. That is but idle talk, sheer nonsense. He 
imitates his father so well, that I often take the one 
for the other. You have been imposed upon. He 
has incurred the reproaches of his parents. What 
could have induced you to do that. He is indulging 
himself, it seems, this afternoon. It is not very 
polite to interrupt me in that manner. We soon 
joined? 9 the sport. You have laid a very foolish 
wager. We used to lay travellers under contribution. 
I would lay my life, it is not true. We usedt to live 
well at the bishop's. You run the risk of living ill 
in that family. Lock the door. Have you locked 
the door ? You look well. He is making faces at 
me. What do you mean ? Have you made up your 
mind? You make my mouth water. I have never 
given you occasion to scold me. Come, pack off, I 
do not want you any longer. He would 38 J never 
pardon his brother. How can one pity such people ? 

* The difference between an, jour, matin, semaine, and an" 
nee, journee, matinee, huit jours, is, that the latter words are 
used when only the duration of time is signified. 

f See note, page 20. 

J See note, page 32. 



EXERCISES. 71 

That poor woman excited my pity. I tell you plainly 
that you are anything but an honest man. He is 
playing on the violin. The poor woman had pledged 
all her clothes. You are praising the city where I 
was born. Make me a present of that ring. He 
presumes on his pompous titles. He does not much 

gros 
prize your friendship. He is proof against misfor- 
tunes. He profits by the lessons that are given 10 
him. If you think proper, I will accompany you. 
The conduct you have hitherto pursued* 1 is irre- 
proachable. Why do you put off until to-morrow, 
what you can do to-day ? It was to put his creditors 
on a wrong scent that he (spread) that report. 

/aire courir 
After having made 41 themselves masters of the town, 
they put all the garrison to the sword. He is not 
reasonable. I have not received a penny since I have 
been here. You do not reflect ; how can I go with- 

pres. ind. 
out shoes ? He related his misfortunes to me. He 
relies on the promises you have made him. I shall 
return home about ten o'clock. We rose 39 from din- 
ner about eight o'clock. You shall roll in gold and 
silver. I lent him a few pounds to set him up again. 
How simple you are ! Here I am out of a situation 
again. It was to vex his parents that he did so. Do 
not come to see me to-morrow ; it is to morrow that 
they 9 wash. He wears a white hat. Thank God, I 
am very well. Send me word where you are going to 
live. Do not go from your word with me. He wishes 
very much to see Paris. 



RECAPITULATORY EXERCISE 

ON THE IDIOMS, ETC. 



If you will* make me a present of that book, I will 
accept it willingly. You pay no attention to what 
is said 10 to you. We set sail with a favourable wind. 
Have you shaved yourself this morning ? No, I got 38 
shaved by the barber. They 9 do not eat meat [on] 
Fridays, in France; they 9 abstain entirely from meat 
[on] those days. I will go, my glory is at stake. 
I did 38 ,it once ; but you will not catch me at it again. 
I should like to see how you will set about it. You 
have not hit it yet, far from it. I do that ! you do 
not reflect, it is a hanging matter ! If he has lost 
his situation, let him lay it to himself. You have 
been imposed upon ; who 5 told it you ? You must 8 
not be angry with me, I tell you the truth. He is 
anxious to know where I am going. Life is short 
and tiresome ; it is all spent in wishing ; we put off 
our rest and our pleasures to that age, when often 
the best possessions, health and youth, have already 
disappeared • that time comes, surprising us still in 
the midst of wishes, we (are still at it) when the 

y etre encore 
fever seizes us, and (puts an end to) us : if we had 

prendre eteindre 

recovered, it would have been but to wish a little 
longer. Women have sometimes a right to com- 
plain ; but they are always wrong to scold. He 
thought only of living well, and his fortune, which 
was not a bad one, furnished him the means (of 
* See note, page 32, 



EXERCISES. 7B 

doing so). I had no sooner alighted, than my friend 

en 
came 39 to embrace me. He knew 40 how to make 
the most of his talents. My conversation with him 
gave 39 me occasion to speak to him of the intention 
and reasons I had for getting rid of my horse. I 

de 
told 39 the jockey / left* it to his honesty. My 
friend took me to a merchant who was the next day 
to set out on his journey for Flanders. / am too 
much obliged to my father for having suffered me to 
depart, to wish to return. I plainly perceived 39 that 
the landlord was in collusion with the jockey. He 
was 39 not long before he convinced me I was in the 
right. The pleasure he evinced 39 at seeing me ; in- 
duced me to treat him well. He fell upon the 
chicken, as he had done upon the eggs, and, when 
he was full to repletion, he told me I was* always 
to distrust strangers. Trust to me, I will get you 
out of trouble. With this, he laughed 39 in my face 
and went away. It was to pump me, that he ad- 
dressed himself to me. I shut 39 myself up in my 
room and got into bed. I was not only obliged to 
agree to whatever he proposed ; but I had also the 

encore 
mortification to perceive that the scoundrel remem- 
bered 40 my adventure. / ivas not alone, there were 
several persons in the coach, and we all soon became 
acquainted. The next day, he asked me fresh ques- 
tions. You shall live in abundance, said he, and shall 
roll in gold and silver. After the Moors had seized on 
Arragon and almost all Spain, the Christians took 39 
flight. He told the captain 13 he had just taken some 
plate from a merchant who was going 31 to Paris. My 
parents flogged 40 me, when a child, (with emulation) . 

a qui mieux mieux. 

E 



74 EXERCISES. 

When my father was flogging me, my mother, as if 
he had not performed it well, used to join in the 

s'en acquitter 
sport. We used to lay travellers under contribution, 
and / was so comfortable, that I would not seek any 
other way of living : / am, therefore, much obliged to 
my father for having ill-treated me. They rose from 
dinner to go to bed. Conquerors seize on the estates 
of their neighbours. Thieves often take away the 
life of the innocent. Judges often save the life of 
the guilty. I made 39 an attempt to escape. I cleared 39 
away and placed everything in order again. I could 
not eat, and as / appeared as sad as I had reason 
to be, they undertook 39 to console me. Thank hea- 
ven, friend, that you are freed, at once, from the 
dangers, troubles, and difficulties of life. I put up 
quietly with this discourse, because it was of no use 
for me to be angry at it. I was 10 led into a cellar 
which served as a burying ground for those who 

a 
died 40 (a) natural death. The bars were so close 

de leur 
that one 9 could scarcely get one's hand through. My 
despair will (give) me strength; I shall perhaps 

preter 
succeed. I mixed with their discourse when I found 
an opportunity of putting in something witty. I 
eagerly wish to be one of your companions. All the 
company applauded this discourse, and it was unani- 
mously resolved that the honourable situation I 
(put up for) should be 10 granted me. Let us take 
demander 

care, said they, to bring him up ourselves to glory. 
Ah ! replied 39 the poor man, who took care not to 
understand the true sense of my words, what have 
you said ? That is what / meant/' He has just 



EXERCISES. 75 

committed a robbery, which will send him to the 

/aire 
galleys. Lay the cloth. You can serve me and you 
will* not. He nevertheless looted like a complete thief. 

franc 
I have not received a penny of your money for a 
long time. When is it daylight in your apartment ? 
Their servants imitated* them so well, that they 
might easily have been 10 taken for them. They 
shot at the people without mercy. He nevertheless 39 

populace 
heard all that it was of consequence to us that he 
apprendre 

should 18 not know ; a discontented servant put 39 him 
up to it. My friend did not let 39 slip so good an 

beau 
opportunity, to make the most of the letters 13 he had 
made me write for him. / was 39 not long before I 
fell asleep. I will keep to the one 13 I have chosen. 
I hope 13 they will pardon him. The physician de- 
prived 39 him of his wife, by wishing to rid her of a 

vouloir 
cough. If any one unluckily happened to touch 

par malheur 
[upon] that point, he would begin* to weep like 

corde 
one disconsolate. Whenever his eyes happened* to 
meet mine, I felt 39 myself seized with inconceivable 
terror. The affair did 39 not succeed \ I laid it 39 to 
your brother. I am not yet accustomed to the habits 
of the English. I want a man who will inquire 

condl. subj. 

diligently respecting his morals, andgive me a faith - 

subj. 

* See note, page 32. 
E 2 



76 EXERCISES. 

ful account of them. When my mother was ill, the 
two most celebrated physicians in London were 10 
sent for. I nearly cried too, so much was I 
affected by his tea^. We longed* to hear the 
touche de 

explanation of the picture. We ardently* wished to 
hear her relate her story. He had 39 the misfortune 
to fall into the hands of the king, who was satis- 

entre 
fed 39 with depriving him of his liberty, to* punish 
him for his rebellion. He pitied his uncle's fate, 
although 20 he had no reason to be much afflicted at 
it. Death will not be long before it puts an end to 
my torments. Your glory is at stake, not to let the 
whole kingdom see that you have nattered yourself 
with a frivolous expectation. If I deceive your ex- 
pectation, lay it only to yourself. We went 39 thither 
in a coach, and carried (with us) all the things we 

y 

wanted. Whilst he was having his boots taken off, 
his page met 39 me on the staircase. You speak 
openly to me, / am much obliged to you for it. I 
acted* the footman in that play, and I showed them 
that I had wit enough to play so fine a part. I 

role 
was 10 introduced into a study, where i" was not long 

faire entrer 
before I saw 35 my father make his appearance. Sir, 
you are certainly in the wrong. That is getting well 

inf. 
out of a scrape. He was nearly kissing me for joy. 
We have just got rid of a rival who might have 
troubled us, that is not amiss. My master sat 39 
down to dinner with them, and cleverly turned the 

* See note second, page 3. 



EXERCISES. 77 

conversation on his family. He left those drunkards 
in the hands of the watchmen, who took care to 
entre 

carry them home. He then asked [for] some paper 
and ink, and wrote a note which he had carried to 
its address by his little page. He is not one of those 
particular masters who find fault with every thing. 
You must 8 observe your master, and give me an 
account of all his steps. If you perceive that any 
of his relations aim at his inheritance, let me know ; 

succession 
I will soon sink him. You are not satisfied with 
imposing upon a good old-man ; but to crown your 
treachery, you are going to put him to death, I am 
perfidie 

sure that you are guided 11 solely by my interest, 
and / am much obliged to you for it. After the 
generosity he has evinced, I should be wrong to 
mistrust him. How could she have reflected upon it, 
I did not think of it myself. It ivas in vain for me 
to make all the inquiries imaginable, I could not 
find him. Leave it to time. Revenge yourself; do 
not leave it to laws, which will perhaps deceive your 
resentment. His other masters could* do no better 
with him. What do you think of doing with it ? 

Quel 
The men who accompanied him, took 39 aim at us 
with some carbines, which they were carrying. My 
companions had a countenance which bore witness to 
what was passing within them. As for me, I entered 
into conversation with the captain. She often had 
Arabian plays acted before her husband. He 

pieces represent er 
told me it should not be his fault if we did 18 not see 

* See note, page 32. 



78 EXERCISES. 

each other oftener. He takes after his father [in] 
that. I take after you a little, I assure you. He 
gives way to his inclination. He took it into his 
head to be offended, that I should dare appear in a 

subj. 
place where he was. He wanted to reproach me ; 
lieu 

I laughed in his face : he put himself in a passion 
and gave me a box on the ear. I was obliged to 
confine myself to the acquaintance of trades-people, 

commerce bourgeois 

which nevertheless hurt me a little at first. It was 
in vain forme to talk to her, she had made up her 
mind. It was in vain for me to husband my money, 

menager 
my purse got empty 39 by degrees, and, at the 
expiration of three weeks, / had not a penny left. 
They expected to injure me : they did not however 
succeed (in doing it). I spared 39 nothing to please 

en 
him, and succeeded without any difficulty. / went 39 
to see his father to* (have an explanation) with him. 

s'explicuer 
I ought to accuse no one but myself, for having 
placed my confidence in a man 13 I did not know, 
donner 

and whom / had reason to distrust, after all that had 
been said to me about him. You ought to have 
supposed that he would not be long before he (be- 
imaginer 
came acquainted with) your treachery. I grant that, 

savoir 
and I intended 40 to disappear as soon as possible, 
proposer 

* See note second, page 3. 



EXERCISES. 79 

for I ardently* desired to see Madrid again. We 
deceived* 9 every body by the parties 13 we gave. 40 

fetes 
God forbid that we should confound guilt with 

subj. crime 

innocence. The conformity in the proper names of 
the Claudian family shows that they were all the 

Claude 
eldest sons of their families. The Romans resolved 39 
to take satisfaction for the pillage which the Veii 

Veiens 
had made on the Roman territory. The Roman 
generals, rather than discontinue the siege, had 
lodgings constructed to* shelter the soldiers from 

sing, 
the inclemency of winter. It was resolved (to put 
rigueurs donner 

upon full pay) all those who should come to 

la paie a 
the siege. The loss which had just been sus- 
tained only increased the ardour of all classes for 
the continuation of the siege. The tribunes 39 
threatened the generals to have them arrested, and 
represented to the people, that they ought to show 
that they were not capable of suffering themselves 
to be deceived by so palpable an artifice ; that the 

grossier 
Sergii and Virginii ought to be deprived 10 of the so- 
vereign authority and the principal dignities of the 
republic, (which ought to be) transferred to the ple- 

pour f aire passer 

beians, worthy of those honourable posts ! They had 

plebeians nominated for military tribunes. In the 

ceremony of Lectisternium, the statues of the Gods 

Lectisterne 

* See note second, page 3. 



80 EXERCISES. 

were 10 served with magnificent repasts for a week, 

pendant 
as if they had been able to avail themselves of them ; 
prisoners were set 10 at liberty, and they 9 would have 
scrupled to have them arrested after the festival was 
over. Those only were pardoned who were found 
unarmed. Camillus, who had hut just ended his dic- 

sortir de la 
tatorship, opposed the proposition of T. SiciniusDen- 
tatus, of making a second Rome of the city of Veii. 
There was no possibility of forcing the soldiers to 

sing, 
bring back articles, which they had either used 41 or 

consume 
got rid of. They had recourse to colonies to* get rid 
of turbulent and restless young men. Brennus de- 

remuant une jeunesse 

clared that he was angry with the Romans only. 149 
M. Manlius alone faces the enemy. He began to 
flatter the people, as a tribune might have done, he 
sold his estates to acquit their debts, and declared 
that (as long as) he had a penny left, he would not 

tant que 
suffer his fellow-citizens to be put 10 into prison. 

fers 
The senate and the people were separated, like two 
factions, ready to come to acts of violence. Manlius, 
as it respected a capital crime, appeared 39 before his 
judges clothed in black; he laid bare his bosom, 

de deuil 
which he showed all covered with the wounds 13 he 
had received 41 in battle. The people could not re- 

les combats 
solve to use all the severity of the laws against a 
de 

* See note second, page 3. 



EXERCISES. 81 

man who had just saved the republic. He showed 
them that Cotta and Manlius Aquilius had escaped 
the rigour of the law by the bribery of their judges. 
I pretended 39 at first not to perceive his design. 
Thinking that he ought not to confine himself to 
that, he openly abused me in the street. He was 
ashamed to let me see his weakness. He was afraid 
of drawing upon himself the resentment of the king. 
That news hurt me as much as if the accident had 
happened to myself. Imagining 13 my honour was 
at stake, I formed the design of calling him (out) . 

en duel 
The gentleman you have just seen at the castle is my 
uncle. If you are not satisfied, and if you wish we 
should come to blows, you have only to speak. After 
what you have just (told) me you are no longer my 

apprendre 
enemy. I was too hasty to put up with insults which a 

vif injures 

sensible man, in my place, would only have laughed 
at. I thanked Heaven I was out of that (dilemma). 

mauvais pas 
I asked him respectfully what was the matter with him. 
If I had been firm, I should not have lost my place. ♦ 
He made 39 me restore all the money 13 1 had received. 
What 5 could I have done, at the age I was ? His 
lordship was 39 not long before he returned. His lord- 
ship had me called very early. He was not satisfied 
with asking me what my name was ; but he wished 
to know the names of all my relations. / shall leave 
it to your judgment. They were not ashamed to 
commit meannesses to* procure my good-will. / 
faire capter bienveillance 

could scarcely believe 13 they were Englishmen I 

subj. 
* See note second, page 3. 
E 5 



82 



EXERCISES. 



nevertheless served them, without being the dupe of 
their interested politeness. God forbid that I should 
be offended at your boldness. I did not tell him a 
single word of what had just passed between his 
master and me. Whilst I was relating it to him, my 
pretended friend went away without* bidding me 
good-bye, I had sold my horse, thinking that I should 
no longer want it. / made up my mind to take a 
furnished room and to go afterwards to London. I was 
so irritated against the archbishop, that the frugality 

pique 
of my inn appeared to me preferable to the good 
living 13 we had at his house. I only laughed at his 
ingratitude. During the play I did nothing but ponder 

rever 
on the news I had just heard. / had reason to be- 
lieve that [the] sight (of me) would not please him 

ma 
much. Having reason to be dissatisfied with me, I 
judged that he might pretend not to know me. I had 
so great a mind to laugh, when I heard him finish 
his story, that I had 39 not a little difficulty to pre- 
vent myself from it ; I however succeeded 39 If / 
have reason, for the future, as I hope I shall, to be 
satisfied with him, / will enable him to live at his 
ease. He began 39 laughing like a madman, and I 
could not help following his example,and, when we had 
sufficiently indulged ourselves, he said to me, Confess 

bien 
that we have just been acting a droll play; but / did 

jouer plaisant 
not expect the conclusion. / bid 39 him good-bye and 
went away. He (guessed) that / had no objection to 

penser bien 
make my escape. Do not be offended at my taking 
* See note, page 27. 



EXERCISES. 83 

you to Italy, we shall be able there to shelter our- 
selves from the resentment of your enemies. I 
will turn spy. I plainly perceived 40 / had to 
do with a rogue. He soon showed 39 me that I 
had not been mistaken. I had no reason to repent 
of having made such an acquaintance. If it be agree- 
able to you, we will go to-morrow and look at the 
estate I have just bought. I spent all the money 
/ had left. We 9 consult nothing but ambition and 
interest, when it respects establishing ourselves. It 
was of no use for me to tell him what (would be the 

s'ensuivre 
consequences) of his conduct; he had made up his 
mind, I (put on) (in their company) a reserve which 

garder avec euoc 
blinded them, I got acquainted with a man, who 
pretended to be a lord. They began 39 all to speak 
together. He is coming with four of his friends, and 

17 va venir 
it will be your fault if you do not make the sixth. I 
found him so foolish, that I could not help laughing 
in his face, I do not want to see any more. He 
fetched a deep sigh, and said to me, Instead of envy- 
ing me, you ought to pity me, for having given my- 
self so much trouble to make myself unhappy. You 
have scarcely any more misfortunes to put up with. 
He bid 39 me good-bye, and left me thinking of what 

occupe 
he had just told me. I got into bed; but could not 
sleep. It was in vain for me to try to please ; he 
was never satisfied. After a severe examination, I 
agreed with myself that if I was not a rogue, I was 
not far off, I represented to myself that they would 
not be long before they discovered my fraud. I told 
him 13 his generous master had just made me a pre- 



84 EXERCISES. 

sent of a purse of sixty guineas. I entered his house, 

dans 
to* give him an account of what I had done ; but 
he had just stept out. I went to my inn after the 

sortir 
conversation I had just had with those gentlemen, 
who told me I was anything but an honest man. 
I thought of nothing but of escaping with my 
household gods, I mean my clothes. The time 13 I 
penates hardes 

had left seemed very long. I nevertheless went and 15 
supped at my inn. I expected to be beat to death. 

etre tue a coups de baton 
I reflected that I mightf rise at court. He was 

se pousser 
a man about sixty years old, of gigantic stature, 
and extremely thin ; he wore large mustachios ; he 

epais sing, 
told me that what dwelt most on his mind, was his 
having dissipated considerable wealth in his cam- 
paigns. / look as if I should return as I came. He 
soon got rid of his modesty. It was in vain for us 

honte 
both (to exhaust) our wit in scattering the flowers of 

mettre a bout 
rhetoric in our memorials. It was sowing on sand, 

placet 
as the saying is ; whatever turn we took to% make 

subj. 
the most q/'his services, the court paid no attention 
to it. 14 If you want a person who has some interest, 

subj. 
do not spare me, I shall always be delighted to do a 

* See note second, page 3. f See note, page 32. 

% See note second, page 3. 



EXERCISES. 85 

kindness to an honest man ; you have only 149 to tell 
me what it is about. We had soon put him up to 
it, and he assured 39 us, we should soon hear from 
him. I do not depend much on the zeal 13 he has 
just evinced for me. I applauded what he said. As 
for me, I assure you, I will [have] nolhing ; but it 
is not (so) ivith those gentlemen, they are rather 

de meme 
Jewish when it respects obliging their neighbours. I 
would trust your word ; but you have to do with a 
person naturally mistrustful. Give her the money 13 
you are going to receive. Give me an account of all 
that has happened to you. You are right, I only 
busy myself about what pleases me. I have to do 
with people who are not so very particular. He began 
to laugh at my expense. After all, we are better than 
they. They look like two madmen. There was no 
need of our approaching them, to hear what they 
were saying, and we soon joined the sport. He is a 
young man who affects the manners of a lord. You 
know the Spaniards, said he, they set no value on an 
honest man, if he has the misfortune to be deficient 
in fortune or birth. / had made up my mind (to be 
out of a situation) a little while longer. He was 

battre le pave 
nevertheless the delight of his master. It will be 
your fault if you do not succeed. You may be one 
of my secretaries if you like. I am not afraid of 
incurring reproaches. He had his steward called, 
and told me to follow him, that he had just received 
orders that concerned me. I had my clothes carried 

regarder 
to my new abode. I want a good servant. j 
suspect 13 my valet and my steward are in collu- 
sion. (Take) the trouble to be to-morrow morn- 

se donner 



86 EXERCISES. 

ing near the Diorama. His lordship wished to send 
them both away ; but after having reflected a little, 
he was satisfied with getting rid of the steward, whose 
situation he gave me. I threatened 39 to turn them 
out of doors. What cruelly mortified him, were the 
contradictions he had to put up with (from me), 

de ma part 
whenever it respected giving me an account of his ex- 
penses. He did not quit the Sicilian lord's service; 
no doubt that, in spite of all he had to put up with, 
he still found it worth his while. He was ashamed 
of having given me (in vain) a [piece of] bad 

inutilement 
advice. He no sooner heard of this misfortune, 
than laying it to every one, he nearly made 
(a clearance of the house) . I should be wrong not to 

maison nette 
believe the relation of Suetonius, who says, that 

Suetone 
Caligula was so fond of his horse, that he gave 39 him 
a house richly furnished, with officers to* serve him, 
and that he wished 40 even to make a consul of him. 
He knows how to make the most of his wares. We 
had a dispute when it respected payment. I confess 
I was wrong to give way to sorrow. When / had got 
rid of him, I went away. My employment consisted 
in visitingf our farms, in having repairs done, in 
a 

receiving money from the farmers, and I gave 40 [in 
my] accounts every month to the Secretary. The 
public sometimes murmur at it ; but that is w T hat he 
gives himself very little trouble about. Your Excel- 
lency ordered me (to be sincere) : I have obeyed 
avoir de la franchise 

* See note second, page 3. + See note, page 27. 



EXERCISES. 87 

you. / am much obliged to you for it, replied he. 
lui 

The King has sometimes these registers read to him. 
He entered to* see how I was setting about it. I 
took great care to (tell) him who I was. I was 

apprendre 
afraid to (call for) anything that savoured [of] 

demander 
parsimony. I became acquainted with him that very 
evening. We sat down to supper. It teas in vain 
for me to be in a good bed, I could not sleep. / 
confined myself to the advice 13 my friend had given 
me; and as I stood in need of him, I went to his 
house early the next morning. I spared nothing 
to please him : but he minded so little all that I did, 
that I despaired of success. Try to profit by the 
advice 13 I have just given you. He loaded me with 
civilities ; but, I assure you, he had not to do with a 
fool. He held in his hand a paper, which he pre- 
tended to be reading. 31 He was not long before he 
found an opportunity of revenging himself. When 
it only respects trifles, I shall not be so particular , but 
when you want the government of a city, you will be 

vouioir 
satisfied, if you please, with half the profit, and 
(account) to me for the other. What completed 
tenir compte 

my pride, was the minister's thinking proper that my 
servant should wear his livery. I was nearly think- 
ing myself a relative of his. I had an anonymous 
letter delivered to him. My servant treated, in the 
same manner, those who addressed themselves to 
him. My pretended friend, who expected anything 
but to see me, was confused, and wanted to go away. 

* See note second, page 3. 



88 EXERCISES. 

I expected* to die. I did it to see if there were not 
some seeds of ambition left in you. My conscience 
secretly reproached me of it. It was in vain for 
Sangrado to see twenty persons die under his hands; 

entre 
he was so convinced of the excellence of bleeding* in 
the arm, and frequent drinking,* that instead of 
laying it to his remedies, he thought 40 his patients 
died 40 for want of having drunk enough, and of 
having been sufficiently bled. It was of no use my 
telling him that, he took no notice of it at all. What 

compte 
do you mean by credulity ? / mean an inclination 
to believe whatever is told 10 us. How old are you ? 
/ am sixteen. I did not think you [were] so old. 
For my part, I am one-and-thirty. Is your mother 
very old ? She is almost eighty. Are you cold in 
that corner? No, not at all; I am quite warm, on 
the contrary. Are you thirsty ? No ; but I am 
very cold, and very hungry. You are hungry, you 
say, and I am very tired, and very dry. You have a 
sore nose, you say ; I wish you had a sore tongue. 
My feet are so cold, that I cannot feel them. If 
they should happen to quarrel, let me know it. Last 
w r eek a fire broke out in our neighbour's house : they 
say that the servant fell asleep before she put out 
her candle, and that the cat (knocked) it down 

faire tomber 
among some shavings, which set the house on fire. 

* Use a substantive. 



CONJUGATION OF VERBS. 



There are four conjugations, distinguished by the 
termination of the Infinitive mood. 

The first ends in .... er. 

The second ends in . . . ir. 

The third ends in . . . oir. 

The fourth ends in . . . re. 



USE OF THE FOLLOWING TABLES. 

If the verb you want to conjugate be in the table 
of verbs, you will immediately see its primitive 
tenses; if not, its termination will show to which 
conjugation it belongs, and by changing that termi- 
nation as directed in the table, you will obtain the 
other primitive tenses ; then refer to the formation 
of tenses for the tense you want, and if not ac- 
quainted with the persons of the tense, refer to the 
table of the formation of persons : — Ex : I want the 
first person plural of the pres. subj. of the verb 
perdre : not finding it in the table of verbs, I see by 
its termination re that it belongs to the fourth con- 
jugation, and is therefore like vendre ; and by 
changing re into ant, u, s, is, I have perdre, pendant, 
perdu, jeperdsjeperdis, all the primitive tenses; I then 
find, by referring to the formation of tenses, that the 
pres. subj. being formed from the pres. participle, 
perdant, Que je perde will be the tense I want; and 
lastly, referring to the table of the formation of per- 
sons, I find the terminations of the subj. pres. to be 
e — es — e — ions — iez — ent, the person I want, being 
the first person plural, will therefore be que nous 
perdions. 



90 



TABLES. 



A TABLE OF PRIMITIVE TENSES. 

FIRST CONJUGATION. 

Pres of Participle Participle Pres. of Pret. of 

the inf. pres. past. the ind. the ind. 

Port-er Port-ant Port-£ Je porte Je port-ai 

SECOND CONJUGATION. 

Fin-ir Fin-issant Fin-i Je fin-is Je fin-is 

THIRD CONJUGATION. 

Rec-evoir Rec-evant Rec-u Je rec-ois Je rec-us 

FOURTH CONJUGATION. 

Vend-re Vend-ant Vend-u Je vend-s Je vend-is 



FIRST CONJUGATION. 

*Aller Allant A116 Je vais 

SECOND CONJUGATION. 



J'allai 



*Acquerir 


Acquerant 


Acquis 


J'acquiers 


J 'acquis 


Bouillirf 


Bouillant 


Bouilli 


Je bous 


Je bouillis 


*Courir 


Courant 


Couru 


Je cours 


Je courus 


*Cueiller 


Cueillant 


Ceuilli 


Je cueille 


Je cueillis 


Fuir 


Fuyant 


Pui 


Je fuis 


Je fuis 


Faillir 


Faillant 


Failli 


Je faux 


Je faillis 


*Mourir 


Mourant 


Mort 


Je meurs 


Je mourus 


OuvrirJ 


Ouvrant 


Ouvert 


J'ouvre 


J'ouvris 


Saillir 


Saillant 


Sailli 


II saille 


11 saillit 


Tenir 


Tenant 


Term 


Je tiens 


Je tins 


VStir 


Vetant 


Vetu 


Je vets 


Je vetis 


Tressaillir 


Tressaillant Tressailli 


Je tressaille Je tressailli s 


*Sentir§ 


Sentant 


Senti 


Je sens 


Je sentis 



* The verbs marked with an asterisk are irregularly formed 
in some of their tenses, and will be found among the excep- 
tions page 92 or 93. 

f The verb bouiller is generally used after /aire, see page 
23 ; we say however Veau bout, the water boils. 

X Verbs in frir belong to this branch. 

§ Verbs in mir and vir belong to this termination. 







TABLES. 




yi 




THIRD CONJUGATION. 




Pres. of the 

infinitive. 
♦Avoir 
♦S'asseoir 


Participle 
present. 
Ayant 
Asseyant 


Participle 
past. 
Eu 

Assis 


Pres. of the 
indicative. 
J'ai 
Je m'assieds 


Preterit of 
the indicat. 

J'eus 

Je m'assis 


♦D-evoir 


D-evant 


D-u 


Je d-ois 


Je d-us 


♦Mouvoir 


Mouvant 


Mu 


Je meus 


Je mus 


♦Pleuvoir 


Pleuvant 


Plu 


11 pleut 


11 pint 


♦Pouvoir 


Pouvant 


Pu 


Je puis 


Je pus 


Pourvoir 
♦Savoir 


Pourvoyant 
Sachant 


Pourvu 
Su 


Je pourvois 
Je sais 


Je pourvus 
Je sus 


♦Valoir 


Valant 


Valu 


Je vaux 


Je valus 


♦Voir 
♦Vouloir 


Voyant 
Voulant 


Vu 
Voulu 


Je vois 
Je veux 


Je vis 
Je voulus 




FOURTH CONJUGATION. 




Battre 


Battant 


Battu 


Je bats 


Je battis 


♦Boire 


Buvant 


Bu 


Je bois 


Je bus 


Circoncire 


Circoncisant Circoncis 


Je circoncis 


Je circoncis 


Clore clorre 


Closant 


Clos 


Je clos 


Je closis 


Conclure 


Concluant 


Conclu 


Je conclus 


Je conclus 


Confire 


Confisant 


Confit 


Je confis 


Je confis 


Coudre 


Cousant 


Cousu 


Je couds 


Je cousis 


Croire 


Croyant 


Cm 


Je crois 


Je crus 


♦Dire 


Disant 


Dit 


Je dis 


Je dis 


E'-crire 


E'-crivant 


E'-crit 


J'e-cris 


J'e-crivis 


♦Etre 


E'tant 


E'te 


Je suis 


Je fus 


Ex-clure 


Ex-cluant 


Ex-clu 


J'ex-clus 


J'ex-clus 


♦Faire 


Fesant 


Fait 


Je fais 


Je fis 


Joi-ndre 
Lire 


Joi-gnant 
Lisant 


Joi-nt 
Lu 


Je joi-ns 
Je lis 


Je joi-gnis 
Je lus 


Maudire 


Maudissant 


Maudit 


Je maudis 


Je maudis 


Mettre 


Mettant 


Mis 


Je mets 


Je mis 


Moudre 


Moulant 


Moulu 


Je mouds 


Je moulus 


Naitre 


Naissant 


Ne 


Je nais 


Je naquis 


Par-aitref 


Par-aissant 


Par-u 


Je par-ais 


Je par-us 


Pl-aire 


Pl-aisant 


Pl-u 


Je pl-ais 


Je pl-us 


♦Prendre 


Prenant 


Pris 


Je prends 


Je pris 


Red-uiret 


Red-uisant 


Red-uit 


Je red-uis 


Je red-uisis 


R6-soudre 


Re-solvant 


R6-sous§ 


Je re-sous 


Je re-solus 


Rire 


Riant 


Ri 


Je ris 


Je ris 


Rompre 
SufF-ire 


Rompant 
SufF-isant 


Rompu 
Suff-i 


Je romps 
Je sufF-is 


Je rompis 
Je sufF-is 


Suivre 


Suivant 


Suivi 


Je suis 


Je suivis 


Vaincre 
Vend-re 


Vain quant 
Vend-ant 


Vaincu 
Ven d-u 


Je vaincs 
Je vend-s 


Je vainquis 
Je vend-is 


Vivre 


Vivant 


Vecu 


Je vis 


Je vecus 



t Verbs in oitre belong to tbis termination. 

Nuire and luire make in the past participle nui and < 



92 



TABLES. 



A TABLE OF THE FORMATION OF THE 
TENSES. 

THE PRESENT OF THE INDICATIVE, 

Although a Primitive Tense, forms its three persons Plural 
from the Present Participle, by changing ant into ons, ez, ent. 

Exceptions. 
Pres. of the Participle First 



injin. 



Aller 


Allant 


Avoir 


Ay ant 


Acquerir 


Acquerant 


Boire 


Buvant 


Diref 


Disant 


Etre 


Etant 


Faire 


Fesant 


Mouvoir 


Mouvant 


Mourir 


Mourant 


Pouvoir 


Pouvant 


Prendre 


Prenant 


DevoirJ 


D-evant 


Savoir 


Sachant 


Tenir 


Tenant 


Venir 


Venant 


Vouloir 


Voulant 



present, person. 



Avons 



Second 
person. 



Sommes 



Savons 



Avez 



Dites 

Etes 
Faites 



Savez 



Third 
person. 

Vont 

Opt <H, & 

Acquierjfoit 
Boivent 

Sont 

Font 

Meuvent 

Meurent 

Peuvent 

Prennent 

D-oivent 

Savent 

Tiennent 

Viennent 

Veulent 



IMPERFECT OF THE INDICATIVE. 

This Tense is formed from the Present Participle, by chang- 
ing ant into ais. 

Exceptions. 

Present infinitive. Present Participle. Imperfect Indicative. 

Avoir. Ay ant. J'avais. 



Savoir 



Sachant 



Je savais. 



THE PRETERIT DEFINITE. 

This is a Primitive Tense. 

f Redire is the only compound of dire that has the same 
exception. 

X This applies to all verbs in evoir. 



TABLES. 



93 



THE FUTURE 

Is formed from the Present Infinitive, by changing the final r 
or re into rai. 

Exceptions. 



sent Infinitive. 


Future Indicative, 


Aller 


J'irai 


Acquerir 


J'acquerrai 


Avoir 


J'aurai 


Courir 


Je courrai 


Cueillir 


Je cueillerai 


Etre 


Je serai 


Envoyer 


J'enverrai 


Faire 


Je ferai 


Mourir 


Je mourrai 


Mouvoir 


Je mouvrai 


Pouvoir 


Je pourrai 


Pleuvoir 


11 pleuvra 


Recevoir 


Je recevrai 


Savoir 


Je saurai 


S'asseoir 


Je m'assierai 


Tenir 


Je tiendrai. 


Voir 


Je verrai 


Vouloir 


Je voudrai 


Valoir 


Je vaudrai 



THE CONDITIONAL 

Is formed from the Future by adding s. 

THE IMPERATIVE MOOD 

Is the same as the Present of the Indicative, by leaving out 
the Pronouns, except the Third Persons, which are always 
the same as the Third Persons of the Present Subjunctive. 



Exceptions. 



Infinitive present. 


Indicative present. 


Imperative, 


Aller 


Je vais 


Va 


Avoir 


J'ai 


Aie 


Etre 


Je suis 


Sois 


Savoir 


Je sais 


Sache 



94 



TABLES. 



THE PRESENT OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE 

Is formed from the Present Participle, by changing ant into e. 

Exceptions. 



Infinitive present. 
Avoir 
Aller 


Present participle. 
A yant 
Allant 


Present subjunctive 
Que j'aie* 
Que j'aille* 


Acquerir 
Boire 


Acquerant 
Buvant 


Que j'acquiere* 
Que je boive* 


Etre 


Etant 


Que je sois* 


Faire 


Fesant 


Que je fasse 


Mouvoir 


Mouvant 


Que je meuve* 


Mourir 


Mourant 


Que je meure* 


Pouvoir 


Pouvant 


Que je puisse 


Prendre 


Prenant 


Que je prenne* 


Recevoir 


Recevant 


Que je recoive* 


Tenir 


Tenant 


Que je tienne* 


Valoir 


Valant 


Que je vaille* 


Vouloir 


Voulant 


Que je veuille 



THE IMPERFECT OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE 

Is formed from the Preterit Definite, by changing ai into 
asse, for the First Conjugation; and by adding se for the 
three others. — There are no Exceptions. 



THE COMPOUND TENSES 



Are formed from the Past Participle with the different Tenses 
of the verbs avoir and etre. 

* The verbs marked with an asterisk are regularly formed 
in the First and Second Persons plural. 



TABLES. 



9S 



A TABLE OF THE FORMATION OF THE 
PERSONS. 



INDICATIVE MOOD. 





Singular. 




Plural. 






1 per. 


2 per. 3 per. 


1 per. 


2 per. 


3 per. 




e 


es e 










s 


s t 








Present 


X 


x t 


ons 


ez 


ent 


Tense 


cs 
ds 
ts 


cs c 
ds d 
ts t 








Imperfect 


ais 


ais ait 


ions 


iez 


aient 




ai 


as a 


ames 


ates 


erent 


Preterit 


is 
us 


is it 
us ut 


imes 
umes 


ites 
utes 


irent 
urent 




ins 


ins int 


inmes 


intes 


inrent 



Future 



ra 



rez 



ront 



CONDITIONAL MOOD. 

Present I rais rais rait I rions riez raient 



SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD. 

Present | e es e | ions iez ent 



Imperfect 



asse asses at 

isse isses it 

usse usses ut 

insse insses int 



assions assiez assent 

issions issiez issent 

ussions ussiez ussent 

inssions inssiez inssent 



RULES WITH EXERCISES 



PECULIAR TO THE 



COLLOQUIAL STYLE. 



Rule 1. — The simplest form of putting a question, 
m French, is by placing the pronominal nominative 
case after the verb, as : — 

Do you understand ? Comprenez-vous 1 

Rule 2. — When the nominative is a noun, the 
noun is placed first, and the pronoun ^7, elle, Us, or 
elles, after the verb, according to the gender and 
number of the noun, as : — 

Is your servant returned ? Votre domestique est-il revenu ? 
Are your daughters married ? Vos Jilles sont-elles mariees ? 

Rule 3. — To mark surprise or doubt, the interro- 
gation is made by Est-ce que ? leaving the nomina- 
tive before the verb, as : — - 

Do you suspect me ? Est-ce que vous me soupconnez ? 
Is he going too? Est-ce quit y va aussi? 
Is your brother ill ? Est-ce que votre frere est malade ? 
Is your brother going too? Est-ce que votre frere y va 



EXERCISES. 97 

Rule 4. — When a negation accompanies the ques- 
tion, which the speaker asks merely to have what he 
thinks, confirmed, the form used is, N'est-ce pas 
que ? as : 

Am I not sixteen ? N'est-ce pas que jai seize ans ? 
Is not your brother very tall ? N'est-ce pas que voire ft ere 
est bien grand ? 



EXERCISE XXX. 

Do you take 1 chocolate? Are you drinking 3 tea? 
Have 3 I any thing on my face ? Is 4 not that apple 
very sweet ? Can 1 you lend me some money ? Is 4 
it not very warm to-day? Shall I tell 1 you the 
truth ? Are 3 you thirsty already ? Do your parents 
live 3 in this street ? Are 3 you afraid of dying ? 
Do you believe 3 that? It is very cold, is 4 it not? 
Is 2 your father still alive? Are 2 your sons re- 
turned ? Shall 3 we go to the play this evening ? 
Do not I look 4 pale ? Do you think, 3 too, that I 
am 19 wrong? Have you seen 1 my father? Has 
your brother done 3 his exercise? Has my father 
spoken 3 to you about it ? Do not the French 
eat 4 frogs ? Are 3 they good to eat ? Do you 
really think 3 I can 19 do it ? Does he not look 4 ill ? 
Do you think 1 I am 13 making any improvement ? 
Are 3 (all) well at home ? Is 10 soup taken 3 

tout le monde 
every day in France? Are you fond of (baked) 

cuit 
apples ? Are 4 we not cousins ? Did your friend 
lend 3 you the money 13 you wanted?* Are you 
tired 3 already ? Have you seen 1 the king ? 

* To want, is often expressed by faiilir y as, I want money, 
il mefaut de V argent. 

F 



98 EXERCISES. 

Rule 5. When an interrogative sentence begins 
with what ? without a substantive, use Qu'est-ce qui 
if in the nominative, and Qu' est-ce que if in the ob- 
jective case; when it begins with who? use Qui 
est-ce qui ? when with whom ? use Qui, or Qui est-ce 
que ? as : 

Who is talking ? Qui est-ce quiparle ? 
What do you say ? Qu est-ce que vous dites ? 
What makes him sad? Qu' est-ce qui le rend triste ? 
Whom have you mentioned ? Qui, or Qui est-ce que 
vous avez nomme° ? 

Rule 6. — If, however, the following verb should 
require the preposition a or de, the sentence, or 
member of sentence, must begin with a or de, as : 

What are you thinking of? A quoi pensez-vous? 
What is it about? De quoi s'agit-il ? 

EXERCISE XXXI. 

Who 5 told you so ? What 5 have you done ? 
Who 5 is knocking ? What 5 do you mean ? What 8 
are you speaking about ? What 6 is he amusing 
himself at ? What 5 are you doing ? Who 5 is calling 
me ? What 5 do you want ? What 5 is he going to 
do ? What 5 did he say ? What 6 (is the use of) 

servir 
that ? What 6 are you playing at ? Who 5 will have 
this apple ? Who 5 will come with me ? What 5 do 
you want with me ? What 5 is the matter with you ? 
What 6 are you complaining of ? What 6 is he busy 
about ? What 5 have you done to your brother ? 
Whom 6 is he making game of? Whom 6 is he 
addressing himself to ? Whom 6 does he complain 
of? What 5 will my father say? What 5 did they 9 
say to you? What 5 are you eating ? What 5 has 



EXERCISES. 99 

your brother done with his money? What 5 has 
that to do with my voyage ? What does that mean ? 
What 5 have you been doing since yesterday ? What 6 
are you meddling with ? What 6 do you spend 
your time at? What 6 is he thinking of? What 6 
did you make use of? Whom 6 have you to do 
with ? Whom 6 are you asking that question of ? 
Whom 5 did I frighten? What 5 did your brother 
say ? What 5 would you have me do ? What 5 have 
you to say to me ? What 5 have you been pur- 
chasing ? What 5 have you done to your brother ? 
Who 5 will have a glass of wine ? 
prendre 

Rule 7. — The word must, or to be obliged to } is 
expressed, in French, in the following manner, and 
requires the following verb to be put in the subjunc- 
tive mood : 

See observation under Rule 17. 

I am obliged to, or must // faut que je. 

Thou must II faut que tu. 

He must II faut quil. 

We must // faut que nous. 

You must II faut que vous. 

They must II faut qu'ils. 

Rule 8. — When the following verb is reflective, it 
is better to put it in the infinitive, w T hen the pro- 
noun sufficiently marks the person. This rule will 
also apply when the expression is indefinite, as : 

You must get up 11 faut vous lever. 

We must assist one another II faut sentr 'aider. 

EXERCISE XXXII. 

I must 7 go away. She must 7 do her duty. Why 
must 7 I be silent ? How much must 7 1 give you ? 
f2 



100 EXERCISES. 

We must 8 make haste. He must 7 have made great 
haste. I must 7 make haste. You must 8 come and 
see me. You must 8 not do so. You must 8 fetch 
me that directly. We must 8 go to bed. We must 8 
not be angry without reason. We must 8 never 
despair. What must 7 I do ? Where must 7 I go ? 
What must 7 I learn? Man must 7 labour. Best 
friends must 7 part. Children must 7 obey. The 
laws must 7 be obeyed. We must 8 die. I must 7 
pay my debts. Death must 7 come. We must 8 eat. 
When we are young, we must 8 learn. Must 7 I do 
all that to-day ? Must 7 I always be unhappy ? 
He must 7 be very wicked. Must I always tell you 

fut. 
the same thing? He will be obliged 7 to pay me. 
Am I obliged 7 to do it ? If I go out with you, I 
must put 7 on my hat. I must 7 send this letter to 
the post. I must 7 get my coat mended. I must 7 
beg some pins. The dinner must 7 be ready. They 
must 7 be very fond of each other. I shall be obliged 
to punish you. I must 7 go and bid my mother 
good-bye. You must 8 take great care of your 

bien 
clothes. He must 7 be at least ninety years old. It 
must 7 be very dirty in the streets. I must 7 send for 
him from Rome. You must 8 pay more attention. 
You must not frighten children. I must 7 get a pair 
of shoes made. You must 7 set a great value indeed 
upon my presents, to give them away, in that man- 
ner, for nothing. 

Rule 9. — The word people, the pronouns we, you, 
they, and one, used indefinitely, are expressed, in 
French, by on, as : 

They say On dit. 



EXERCISES. 101 



EXERCISE XXXIII. 



What will people say ? I do not care what people 
will say of it. We know not what will become of 
us, when we are young. We always do well, what 
we do with pleasure. One is not always in the 
humour to hear music. You are happier when you 
are young. In the golden age, they ate strawberries, 
blackberries, and acorns, as Ovid says. People often 
say what they do not mean. We often do things 
we are afterwards sorry for. We often do what we 
ought not to do. We do not always do what we 
ought to do. They say you are going to be married. 
People think I am rich, because I do not let [them] 
see my poverty. You are not old at fifty. We 
must not always do what people tell us. People 
will tell you, perhaps, that you are pretty ; distrust 
such language, it is flattery. You ought not to 

discours 
harm any one. You ought always to think before 

reflechir 
you speak. They say that the King of Spain is 
dead. God sends misfortunes, we ought not to 
complain. 

Rule 10. — The passive voice is seldom used in 
French ; when it occurs in English, if the expression 
be indefinite, turn the verb into the active voice, and 
use the word on before it, as : 

We have been told so On nous Va dit. 

Rule 11. — If the expression be not indefinite, you 
may often make the agent of the passive verb, the 
nominative of the active verb, as : 

He has been beaten by his father Son pere Va battu. 



102 EXERCISES. 

Rule 12. — When the nominative case of the pas- 
sive verb, in English, is an inanimate object, the 
verb is frequently turned, in French, into a re- 
fleeted verb, as : 

Cheese is sold at a very low price. Le fromage se vend 
a tres-bas prix. 



EXERCISE XXXIV. 

An old habit is left 12 off with difficulty. We 
have been robbed. 10 Happiness is not [to be] pur- 
chased. 12 Everything is sold 12 in England. I have 
been 10 promised a new frock. He has 10 been ill- 
used. Your father has been 11 banished. You 10 have 
been told so twice. He is 10 suspected. It was by 
Romulus 11 that Rome was built. It has 10 been done 
several times. His treasure has 10 been stolen from 
him. We 10 have been deceived. I am going 10 to 
have a harp bought for me. He has been 11 aban- 
doned by his friends. Wine is 12 sold cheap in Cham- 
pagne. The cloth has 10 been laid this hour. You 
are 10 expected. He is said to 10 have succeeded. Tea 
used 12 to be bought formerly at the apothecary's. 
He is 10 accused of high treason. How dear butter 
is sold. 12 My watch 10 has been stolen from me. He 
has been disinherited 11 by his uncle. Children are 
often neglected 11 by their parents. How is that 10 
done ? How 10 is butter made ? You have 10 been 
imposed upon. A good boy is loved 11 by every body. 
We like to be flattered. 10 If you are asked 11 by 
any one where I am gone, say that I am gone into 
the city. If you should 11 be scolded by your parents, 
say it was my fault. That lace is sold 12 very dear. 
French is spoken 10 here. Nothing is given 12 away 
in that house. He was taken 11 prisoner by the 



EXERCISES. 103 

French. I was treated with great 11 kindness by the 
duke, and was sent 11 away loaded with presents. 
Beer is sold 12 at three pence a quart. I was whipped 10 
every week. Children were whipped 10 at Lacedsemon, 
to prevent them from growing fat. * 

Rule 13. — The word that, which is frequently un- 
derstood in English conversation, must always be 
expressed in French, as : 

The man you see L'homme que vous voye%. 



EXERCISE XXXV. 

I hope you are well. You see I am right. The 
books I sold you were very cheap. Can you repay 
me the money I lent you ? Did you read the letter 
I sent you ? The gentleman you have just seen is 
my cousin. What have you done with the money I 
gave you ? Who says I am idle ? You know you 
are wrong. I am afraid I shall not succeed. The 
gentleman you recommended to me is dead. Have 
you seen the knife I bought ? I am afraid you will 
not succeed. I hear you are going to be married. 
Where are the books I lent you ? Are you sure he 
saw me ? The watch I bought is good for nothing. 
I think there will be company at our house to-morrow 
evening. I am sure he is there. How much do you 
think I paid for the gloves I purchased yesterday ? 
Where is the wit you boasted so much of ? I have 
spent all the money I had received. Where are the 
presents I gave you ? 

Rule 14. — When the French verb requires no pre- 
position after it, the pronoun it, governed by the verb 
in the objective case, is expressed by le or la, accord- 
ing to the gender of the noun to which it relates, by 



104 EXERCISES. 

en when the verb requires de, and by y when the verb 
requires a after it, as : 

I see it Je le vols, 

I see it Je la vois. 

I want it Ten ai besom. 

I will think of it J'y penseraL 



EXERCISE XXXVI, 

We shall pass over London-bridge, because I have 
not yet seen it. Come and say your lesson. I do 
not know it yet, sir. I will talk to you about it by- 
and-bye. I knew not what answer to make to it. 
Do you see this orange ? — I am going to give it to 
your sister. — No, do not give it to her, give it to me. 
Do not talk about it. He is a judge of it. He will 
accustom himself to it. Will you have this apple ? 
I shall not be able to eat it all ; take half of it. I 
will reflect upon it. He will repent it. He com- 
plains very much of it. If you will buy my ring, I 
will sell it you for a guinea. I gave two guineas for 
it. I will not wear it any more. 

Rule 15. — When the conjunction and, joining two 
verbs together, can to be turned into to, it must not 
be expressed in French, and the next verb must be 
put in the infinitive mood, as : 

Go and play Alter jouer. 



EXERCISE XXXVII. 

Come and see me to-morrow. We will go and tell 
him his brother is arrived. Stay and sup with us. 
Run and stop him. Go and fetch me my spectacles. 



EXERCISES. 105 

Try and learn your lesson. Run and fetch the doc- 
tor. Come and say your lesson. I hope you will 
come and see me soon. Go and* show the gentle- 
man a light. Will you come and play with me ? I 
went and spent a week at my uncle's. I think I 
shall go and dine at my aunt's. Go and wash your 
face. Go into the stables and fetch my horse. Go 
and sit in your place. I hope you will stay and dine 
with us. Come and take your soup, it will be cold. 

se refroidir 
Will you come and take a walk with me ? Go and 
do it directly. Go and beg his pardon. 

Rule 16. — The verbs avoir peur, craindre, appre- 
hender, prendre garde, and empecherrf used affirma- 
tively, govern the following verb in the subjunctive 
mood, and require the particle ne before it, as : 

I am afraid he will know it Je crains quil ne le sache. 

I am afraid he will do it J'ai peur quilxie lefasse. 

I will prevent him from going J'empecheraiquilnyaille. 
It is feared the enemy will hear of it On apprehende que Vennemi 

ne le sache. 



EXERCISE XXXVIII. 

He was afraid I should know it. He was afraid 
they would put him to death. He is afraid he shall 
be turned away. That accident will prevent your 
mamma from coming to see us. I am afraid it will 

* Eclairer, to show a light, requires a after it. Eclair er 
has three significations : to show a light, as : 

Eclair ez a monsieur, Show the gentleman a light. 

To enlighten, as : Le soleil eclaire la terre, The sun en- 
lightens the earth ; and it lightens, il eclaire. 

f Empecher is more often followed by an infinitive, as : I 
will prevent him from going, Je Vempecherai d'y alter, 
F 5 



106 EXERCISES. 

rain. He is apprehensive that they will suspect him 
of having done it. He is afraid they will put him 
into prison. I will do all in my power to prevent 
my father from being the dupe of that man. I am 
afraid it will be told to my father. Why are you 
afraid he should know it ? I am afraid I shall be 
suspected of having had a hand in it. I am afraid I 
shall be scolded. I will prevent it from being known. 
Why are you afraid he will come ? Because I am 
afraid he will beat me. 

Rule 17. — Verbs of doubting, wishing, fearing, 
ordering, &c, require the subjunctive mood. Ob- 
serve that the present of the subjunctive is used 
when the former verb is in the present or future ; 
and the imperfect when the former verb is in the 
imperfect or conditional. 

Rule 18. — Impersonal verbs and verbs used im- 
personally are followed by the subjunctive. Except, 
il y a, il par ait, il est sur, il est certain, il resulte, 
and a few others implying certainty ; and il semble 
accompanied by a pronoun. 

Rule 19. — Interrogative and negative verbs also 
govern the subjunctive ; except where a question, 
instead of marking a doubt, is used as a stronger 
affirmative. 

Rule 20. — Quelque-que, quel que, quoique, quoi 
que, and the conjunctions afin que, a moins que, 
avant que, bien que, de crainte que, pour que, &c, 
also govern the subjunctive. 

Why doubt that the soul is 17 immortal ? I wish 
you would do 17 me that kindness. I am afraid I 
shall be punished. 17 It is astonishing that you did 



EXERCISES. 107 

not stay 18 there. It seems that you have been de- 
ceived. 18 It is certain that he will be punished. 18 
Do you think it will rain ? 19 I do not expect the 

esperer 
affair will succeed. 19 Philosophers as learned as 
they are, 20 are sometimes mistaken. Although the 
wicked sometimes prosper, 20 do not think that they 
are 19 happy. Who is the man that has 19 not too 
high an opinion of himself, and too poor an one of 

idee mince 

others. Do you think the guilty man sleeps 19 
quiet, and that he can 19 stifle the remorse with 
which he is disturbed ? It seems that time is a 

dechire 
common enemy, against which all men have conspired. 

etre conjure 
Methinks that nothing is 18 more capable of elevating 
il me semble propre a 

the soul, than the contemplation of the wonders of 
nature. Although the comforts of life are 20 often the 
fruits of art, they are not always the portion of 
artists. Is there a man who has 19 never had to 
complain of his fellow-creatures ? Is there a man 
who can 19 flatter himself with enjoying constant feli- 
city ? Il seems (as if) nature took 18 a pleasure, in 

que 
the reign of Louis the Fourteenth, in producing 
great men of every description. What are the evils 

genre 
that have 19 not at the same time their remedies ? Men 
talk of happiness, but is there one who knows 19 in 
what it consists? The envious man would wish 
that whatever is good might 17 belong to himself. 
God has granted sleep to the wicked, that the good 
might have 20 a few moments of tranquillity. Solon, 
at his death, ordered that his bones should be car- 



108 EXERCISES. 

ried 17 to Salamis, that they should be burned, and 
that their ashes should be thrown about the coun- 
try. It is so natural to esteem what we like, that 
we would wish it to be esteemed 17 in the same manner 
everywhere. 

Rule 21. — A relative pronoun, or the adverb on, 
placed after a superlative relative, or after seul, peu, 
rien, or pas un, requires the subjunctive, as : 

It is the only place you can aspire to. Cest la seule place 
ou vous puissiez aspirer. 

He is the only man I know in London. Cest le seul mon- 
sieur que^'e connaisse a Londres. 

There are few men who can support adversity. II y a peu 
a" homines qui puissent supporter Vadversite. 

It is the finest country I have ever seen. Cest le plus beau 
pays que faie jamais vu. 

There is not one of my friends that will assist me. // ny a 
pas un de mes amis qui veuille me secourir. 

I know nothing that can amuse you. Je ne sais rien qui 
puisse vous amuser. 



EXERCISE XXXIX. 

The most useful lessons we can receive are those 
of experience. Wisdom is the only thing whose pos- 
session is certain. The example of a good life is the 
best lesson that can be given 10 to the human race. 
The Chinese religion is the only [one] of all the 
religions that has not taught the immortality of the 
soul. The siege of Azoth lasted twenty-nine years, 
it is the longest that is mentioned in ancient history. 

etre question 
The motions of the planets are the most regular 
[ones] that we 9 are acquainted with. La Fontaine 
was perhaps the only [one] of the literati of his time 



EXERCISES. 109 

who had no share in the liberality of Louis the Four- 
teenth. There were few men who could embrace 
the thumb of the Colossus at Rhodes, which was a 
statue of the sun high enough for ships to pass 20 
under. 

Rule 22.- — The expression " It is in vain for me 
to," or " It is of no use for me to/' is rendered in 
French, by fai beau, as : 

It is in vain for me to speak. J'ai beau parler. 

It is of no use for thee to talk. Tu as beau dire. 

It is of no use his talking. // a beau dire. 

It is in vain for us to speak. Nous avons beau parler. 

It is of no use for you to talk. Vous avez beau dire. 

It is in vain for ihem to talk. lis ont beau parler. 



EXERCISE XL. 

It is in vain for them to wish for it, they shall not 
have it. It is in vain for people to talk, we cannot 
live upon the air. It is of no use for you to tell me 
all your troubles, I have nothing to give you. It was 
in vain for me to shut my 122 eyes, I could not sleep. 
It was of no use for him to cry out, no one 155 heard 
him. It will be in vain for me to tell him so, he 
will not believe me. It is of no use my giving you 
lessons ; if you do not reduce them to practice, you 
will never learn to speak French. It was of no use 
his writing, his letters were never answered. 11 It 
was in vain for me to wish to persuade him, he would 
not do it. It is of no use saying anything to him, 
he does not mind. 

Rule 23. — That as a relative, is expressed in French 
by qui, when it is the nominative to the next verb ; 



110 EXERCISES. 

by que, when the objective case ; and by dont, when 
the verb requires de after it. That, as a conjunction, 
is invariably expressed by que, as : 

'The gentleman that is speaking. Le monsieur qui parle. 
The apple you are eating. La pomme que vous mangex. 

The money I want. L 1 argent dont fax besoin. 

You think I am mistaken. Vouscroye% quejeme trompe. 



EXERCISE XLI. 

I have lost the bird that you gave me. Do you 
see the gentleman that is walking yonder ? he* is my 
uncle. Thatf is the man who did it. Have you 
obtained the money that you wanted ? He says that 
you have hurt him. Do nothing that you may 21 
repent of afterwards. The lady that you are speak- 
ing of, has been dead these two months. Where 
are the books that you promised me ? I have found 
the finest ring that you ever saw. 21 I plainly per- 
ceive that you will not succeed. Did you eat the 
pear that I gave 41 you ? 

Rule 24. — The latter of two verbs is put in the 
infinitive. To have, or to get, followed by a past 
participle, is expressed in Erench by the verb /aire ; 
and this will apply to any expression signifying to 
cause, J as : 

He has had a house huilt. 11 a fait batir une maison. 
You will get scolded. Vous vous ferez gronder. 

He had him put to death. II le fit mourir. 

* See note, page 32. 

f This is, that is, these are, those are, are expressed, in 
French, by void, voild. There is, there are, used demonstra^ 
tively, are expressed in the same manner. 

% To let fall, for instance, meaning to cause to fall, is ex- 
pressed by faire tomber. To ask up stairs, i; e, to cause to go 
up stairs, faire monter. 



EXERCISES. Ill 



EXERCISE XLII. 



Do you want* to get your throat cut ? He has 
had his house rebuilt. He has had gold buttons put 
on his coat. Do not get scolded on my account. I 
am going to have my 122 hair curled. Where do you 
get your shoes made ? You must have those mat- 
tresses beat again. You have let something fall.f 
Ask [the] gentleman up stairs. Have some beef 
steaks broiled for my dinner. He has gone to get a 
tooth drawn. If you pursue so irregular a conduct, 
you will cause yourself to be disinherited. I am 
going to have my 122 ears pierced. Will you have 
the kindness to get my linen ironed ? If you go on 
that (way), you will get hanged. He will get 

train 
whipped, if he does not take care. 

Rule 25. — Quand, lorsque, and aussitot que, re- 
quire the following verb to be put in the future 
tense, whenever a future is implied, as : 

As soon as you have done, come to me. Aussitot que 

vous aurez Jini, venez me trouver. 
I will pay you when you like. Je vous paierai quand 

vous voudrez. 



EXERCISE XLIII. 

When you have done writing, go to bed. When 
he has ruined you, you will begin to open your 122 
eyes. As soon as it is dark, I will go out with you. 
You ought to get up as soon as it is light. [On] 

* See note, page 30. t See note second, page 110. 



112 EXERCISES. 

Saturday, as soon as I have written my letters, I 
shall go out of town, and shall not return until 

a la campagne, d'ou 
Tuesday. When he has (wasted) all his property, 

manger 
he will begin to hear reason. I will set out as soon 
as it has ceased raining. When I have money, I 
will lend you some. As soon as he sees me, he will 
come and 15 speak to me. When you have dined, 
come to me, I want* to speak to you. As soon as 
we have had tea, we are going to the theatre. He 
may set out when he likes. 

Rule 26. — The word than, before an indicative 
mood, is expressed, in French, by que ne ; before an 
infinitive, by que de, or by qu'a, according as the 
preceding verb requires de or a after it, as : 

I drink more than I eat. Je bois plus queje ne mange. 
I had rather sell it than give it. J'aimerais mieux le 

vendre que de le donner. 
He is thinking rather how he may injure you than how 

he may serve you. Ilpense plus a vous nuire qu'a vous 

rendre service. 



EXERCISE XLIV. 

I am richer than you think. You are more 
foolish than you imagine. I had rather die than do 
it. We are often less unhappy than we think. He 
says more than he thinks. It is better to give it 
away than to throw it away. We are more busy 

s'occupef 
in amusing ourselves than in (gaining instruction). 

s'instruire 

* See note, page 30. 



EXERCISES. 113 

He knows more about it than he wished (to tell) 

apprendre 
you. I remember it very well : he said you would 
do better to put your own affairs in order, than to 
meddle with his. It is better to be silent for ever 
than to tell a falsehood. He is thinking more of 
eating, than working. He is cleverer than he is 
thought. 

Rule 27. — The expression to be far from is ex- 
pressed by s'en faillir que, and the following verb 
must be put in the subjunctive mood, as : 

You are far from guessing the reason. II s'en faut que 

vous en deviniez la cause. 
I was far from being satisfied with it. Ils'enfallait que 

jenfusse content. 
Far from it. 11 s'en faut. 
So far from it. Tant s'en faut. 



EXERCISE XLV. 

I am far from believing what you tell me. Thou 
art far from being as clever as thy brother. He is 
far from guessing what I am going to do. We are 
very far from selling dear. You were far from 
guessing the true motives of my conduct. They are 
far from being as learned as the English. So far 
from succeeding, he has not the least chance. You 

esperance 
are far from knowing your lesson. You are far from 
being as unhappy as I am. He was far from being 
satisfied with you. I was far from having any plea- 
sure there. I am far from being as rich as your 
uncle. Your brother is far from being as learned as 
vou. 



114 EXERCISES. 

Rule 28. — To be the fault of if- — not, or to have if 
one likes, is expressed, in French, by ne tenir qu'a, 
as : 

It is my fault if I do not II ne tlent qua moi de. 
It is thy fault if thou dost not 11 ne thnt qua toi de. 

He may if he likes II ne tient qua lui de. 

We may if we like II ne tient qua nous de. 

It is your fault if you do not II ne tient qua vous de. 

They may if they like // ne tient qua eux de. (m.) 

They may if they like II ne tient qua elles de. (f.) 

EXERCISE XLVI. 

I may go if I like. It is my fault if I do not suc- 
ceed. He may have his father's horse if he likes. 
It is his own fault if he does not succeed. It is his 
own fault if he is not elected. We may be happy 
if we like. It is our own fault if we are not rich. 
You might have been a clergyman if you had liked. 
It is your own fault if you are not a bishop. They 
may be victorious if they choose. It is their own 
fault if they do not gain the battle. You act* very 
ill towards your sister ; it is your fault if she is not 
married. It was our fault if we did not make our 
fortunes. My brother may be elected member of 
parliament if he chooses. 

Rule 29. — Nearly, may be expressed, in French, by 
peu s'enfaut que, and the following verb must be put 
in the subjunctive, with ne before it, as : 

I nearly fell. Peu sen est fallu que je ne sois tombe. 
He nearly named him. Peu sen est fallu qu'il ne Fait 

nomme. 
I nearly broke my leg. Peu s'en est fallu que je ne me 

sois casselajambe. 

* Never use en with agir, for agir never takes de after it. 
See Rule 14. 



EXERCISES. 115 



EXERCISE XLVII. 

That dog nearly bit me. I nearly cut my finger. 
He nearly told me all he knew about the matter. I 
nearly fell into the ditch. I nearly ruined him. We 
nearly caught him. He was nearly drowned. We 
were nearly shipwrecked. We were nearly falling 
with fatigue. I nearly ran over him. I was nearly 
telling him that he was anything but an honest man. 
She was near falling into the same mistake. We 
were near firing on them. They were near catching 
us. He was near falling into the fire. I was near 
treading on his (toes) . I was near running him 

pieds 
through. I was near sending him away. I was 
near falling into the snare. 

Rule 30. — If — but a little, is expressed, in French, 
by pour peu que, and the following verb must be put 
in the subjunctive mood, as : 

If you had hut had a little foresight, that would not have 
happened to you. Pour peu que vous eussiez eu de 
prevogance, cela ne vous serait pas arrive. 

If you but -pay a little attention to these rules, you will 
soon improve. Pour peu que vous fassiez attention a 
ces regies, vous ferez bientot des progres. 



EXERCISE XLVIII. 

If you but had a little prudence, you would not 
keep such company. If you but had a little gene- 
rosity, you would reward the honesty of that poor 
man. If you will but have a little patience, you will 
be told everything. If we but like study a little, we 



116 EXERCISES. 

soon remove every difficulty. If one be but ever so 
little angry with him, he begins immediately to cry 
like a child. If we but reflect a little, we must be 
convinced that a Frenchman cannot teach French 
as well as an Englishman. If you but be a little 
economical, you will soon make your fortune. If 
you had but had a little politeness, you would not 
have suffered the lady to go home by herself. 

Rule 31. — When the verb to be is followed by a 
past participle, the expression is passive; when by a 
present participle, it is not passive, as ; 

PASSIVE. 
We shall be scolded On nous grondera. 

I have been robbed On ma vole. 

He has been flogged On Vafouette. 

It has been told me On me Va dit. 

NOT PASSIVE. 
He is always scolding II gronde toujours. 

He is robbing his father II vole son per e. 

He is flogging his son llfouette sonfils. 

He is telling a falsehood II dit un mensonge. 



EXERCISE XLIX. 

I am writing a letter. That letter is not well 
written. He was taking his coffee. The town was 
taken by assault. We were playing at piquet. He 
was reading, when I entered. 38 Homer will always 
be read with new delight. He was running as fast 

a toutes 
as he could. He was shaving himself, when I ar- 

jambes 
rived. I am shaved. I have been walking all day. 
He is always finding fault with what I do. He was 



EXERCISES. 117 

reading Virgil, when I perceived him. His father 
was murdered. What were yon doing all yesterday, 
that you did not go out ? What was he saying to 
you ? It is said that the King of Spain is dead. 

Rule 32. — When que, dont, a quoi, avec lequel, 
dans lequel, or its equivalent oit, precedes a verb, 
having a noun for its nominative and no indirect regi- 
men, (except it be a personal pronoun,) that noun 
may be elegantly placed after its verb, as : 

Here is a story which one of your friends told me. 

Void une histoire que ma coulee un de vos amis. 
They blaspheme the name which their fathers invoked. 

lis blasphement le nom quont invoque leurs peres. 

EXERCISE L. 

It has been said, with reason, that shame is a 
mixture of the grief and fear which infamy causes. 

chagrins 
Their premature death has spread a deep mourning 
all over the country, which their presence rejoiced, 
and their virtues embellished. It was under the 
shade of the evergreen foliage of that laurel, that my 
dear parents used formerly to repose them- 

auteurs de mes jours 
selves. We were admiring the splendid sight which 

riche 
the horizon presented. One is not less struck with 
the grandeur and promptitude with which peace is 
made, than with the rapidity with which conquests 
are made. The finest days that spring gives you, 
are not worth those which winter leaves us here ; and 
never does the month of May appear to you so plea- 
sant as the month of January is to us. I depart, 
and am going to join that faithful flock, which the 



118 EXERCISES. 

solemn pomp of this day attracts. What delights 
can be compared to those which a good action 
causes ? Whatever be his inclinations, the wise man 
surmounts them; it is on ourselves that glory or 
shame depends. It is to Jenner that the discovery 
of vaccination is due. I should do wrong to pass 
over in silence the pain and anxiety which this 
Sicilian lord experienced during my illness. I see 

avoir 
the infallible means which the minister has, of suc- 
ceeding in his enterprise. That, continued he, is 
what my friend told me. It is like the perfume 
which a (tender) rose (diffuses), at the first rays 

jeune exhaler 

of the sun. Lovely children ! how amiable is 
your fate ! Alas ! all the efforts of art cannot 
procure us half the pleasure that nature la- 
obtenir a nos cccurs 

vishes on you. We perceived an osier cradle, in 
which a child, as beautiful as an angel, was reposing. 
That is what misers seldom think of. 

Rule 33. — The definite article the, the possessive 
pronouns my, his, &c, or a substantive in the posses- 
sive case, frequently precedes the English participle 
in ing. When this occurs at the beginning of a 
sentence, if you cannot turn the participle into a 
substantive, you must give the sentence a different 
turn, as : 

The pardoning of our enemies does not consist merely in 
not injuring them. Le pardon des ennemis ne consiste 
pas settlement a ne leur pas nuire. 

My scolding of you is of no use. 11 ne me sert de rien de 
vous gronder. 

When this happens in the middle of a sentence, use 
que, or de ce que, a ce que, if the verb requires a pre- 



EXERCISES. 119 

position, making the primitive of the possessive pro- 
noun, or the substantive, the nominative case to the 
following verb, which must be put in the present or 
past of the indicative, according as the participle ex- 
presses a present or a past, as : 

That proceeds from your not eating. Cela vient de ce 
que vous ne mangez pas. 



EXERCISE LI. 

His going away surprised us all. Your father's 
being angry with you is, I know, the cause of your 
sadness. That proceeds from your not holding 
yourself upright. What exclamations do you not 
make at a man's having the boldness to write upon 
such a subject ! Why rejoice at my not having suc- 
ceeded ? I am thinking of that poet's having 
finished so long a poem in so short a time. That 
comes from your not believing what I told you. He 
complains of my having taken part against him ; but 
he is silent about (sur) his having lent money to 
enable my enemies to ruin me. He is in despair at 
his books having been taken from him. They have 
made a mistake in their having fixed the date of that 
event ninety years before our Saviour, since it is 
known that it could not have taken place until a long 
time afterwards, mention being made in it of His 
sufferings. I am not surprised at your wanting to 
borrow money, and I am less surprised at your 
friends' refusing to lend you any. What is the 
cause of his having refused to assist you? The 
reading of novels is a seducing poison. Do not be 
alarmed at my being ill, I am but too often so. 
lam rejoiced at your father's having so well suc- 
ceeded in his enterprise. The teaching of youth 



120 EXERCISES. 

should be intrusted to those only who possess an in- 
exhaustible fund of patience. His keeping of so 
many dogs must be attended with a great expense. 
He is angry at your not having mentioned your 
voyage to him. We were soon undeceived by our 
enemies' turning their backs. He is astonished at 
your father's having received him so coolly. The 
burning of criminals is quite abolished. What sur- 
prised him most, was the man's swallowing molten 
lead. Your father's entering the room unexpectedly 
disconcerted us all. The training of horses for 
racing is attended with cruelties, which would make 
you shudder. 

Rule 34. — When the verb to make, or any other 
expression signifying to cause, is followed by a 
noun in the objective case and another verb, that 
noun becomes, in French, the nominative to the fol- 
lowing verb, and must be preceded by que, as: 

What makes that tree not grow like others ? Quest-ce 
qui fait que cet arbre ne pouisse pas comme les autres. 

That made the fire spread so far. Cest-ce qui a fait que 
V incendie s est repandu si loin, 

N.B. — This rule may also be applied when the ob- 
jective case is a personal pronoun, especially when 
the following verb is reflected, as : 

What makes you storm so? Qu'est-ce qui fait que vous 
vous emportez tant ? 

What 5 makes you not like study ? He is a man 
who takes a serious interest in your affairs : that is, 
no doubt, what makes him storm so against your 
enemies. What makes you always stare at me so ? 
What makes you speak so loud ? You are always 
talking, that is what makes you have so many tasks. 



EXERCISES. 121 

What 142 is the reason we never see your father now ? 
What makes men think so little of death ? What 
makes us always find fault with others, and scarcely 
ever with ourselves ? What 136 makes me fond of 
study, is, that my master knew how to render it 
pleasing to me. What makes women not like each 
other ? That is what makes you not succeed. 

Rule 35. — When a noun in the objective case 
comes between an active verb and the participle of a 
neuter verb, to both of which it relates, although 
it precedes the latter verb in English, it must, 
in French, be placed after it, as : 

I see your father coming. Je vols venir voire pere. 
Did you ever hear such nonsense said ? A-t-on jamais 
entendu dire des sottises pareilles ? 

Rule 36. — The same order as in English should, 
however, be preserved, when you wish particularly to 
draw attention to the action of the participle, by 
putting the second verb in the indicative with qui be- 
fore it, as : 

I see your father coming. Je vois monsieur voire pere 

qui vient. 
I hear your father speaking. Tentends voire pere qui 

parle. 

EXERCISE LII. 

I have heard your uncle say he never went to col- 
lege. I attack on her throne a haughty queen, who 
beholds a numerous camp of bold foreigners and 
faithless Hebrews marching under her banners. I 
saw your late father die. They heard the boy cry- 
ing, but left him to perish, I smell something burn- 
ing. 36 Did you hear that man speak ? 1 will go to 



122 EXERCISES. 

the ball this evening, were it only to see your brother 
dance. I saw our neighbour's house burnt down. 
Did you ever see such things done ? I think I hear 
your father scolding. 36 I amuse myself at seeing 
the others dancing. Did you ever see a child run 
so ? 

Rule 37. — When a sentence begins with an inter- 
rogative adverb, the substantive, adjective or adverb 
which immediately follows it in English, is generally 
placed after the verb, in French, as : 

What force and eloquence sentiment and truth give. 
Que le sentiment et la verite donnent de force et d'elo- 
quence. 

What power virtue has over the most ferocious minds. 
Que la vertu a de pouvoir sur les ames les plus feroces. 



EXERCISE LIII. 

How many 46 children have I not known, who pre- 
ferred study to their games ! How credulous our 
passions make us, and how difficultly does a heart 
that is deeply affected detach itself from the very 
errors it perceives ! How unhappy I am ! How 
tiresome that is ! How disinterested flatterers are ! 
they wish those with whom ambition detains them 
all that is good, except good sense and prudence. 
What 76 charms beauty has, when it is united with 
wisdom ! How unfortunate you are ! How sad you 
seem ! What wit that man possesses ! How [very] 
dirty your hands are ! How much kindness he has 
had for me ! How short life is ! What news is 
there ? How avaricious we ought to be of our time ! 
How angry we ought to be with ourselves when we 



EXERCISES. 123 

have done wrong ! How cold one must be in your 

devoir 
country ! How hot it must be where you are sit- 
ting ! 

The difficulty, so often complained of, in the 
proper uses of the tenses of the French verb, arises 
from our expressing, by the imperfect, the times dis- 
tinguished, in French, by the imperfect, the preterit 
indefinite, and the preterit definite. 

Our imperfect tense should be translated by 

Rule 38. — The preterit indefinite, when the action 
or event has taken place within the period of time 
implied by the speaker, as : 

I rose very early this morning. Je me suis leve de bonne 
heure ce matin. 

(The period of time in which I am speaking is to- 
day, and the action has taken place within that 
period.) 

Rule 39. — The preterit definite, when the action 
took place but once, and at a specified time anterior 
to the period of time implied, as : 

I rose last Saturday at four o'clock. Je me levai samedi 
passe a quatre heures. 

(The action took place but once, and at a specified 
time, anterior to the one in which I am speaking.) 

Rule 40. — The imperfect in every other instance, 
especially when continuation or habitual perform- 
ance is signified, as : 

When I was in Paris, I rose very late. Quand jetais a 
Paris, je me levais bien tard. 

g2 



124 EXERCISES. 



EXERCISE LIV. 

I was very ill this morning. I was very ill that 
night. I was always ill when I was in London. I 
awoke at six this morning. It was on the sixth of 
October, I remember it well, I awoke in a fright, 

en sursaut 
(hurried on) my clothes, and [on] going (down 
mettre a la hate en 

stairs), found the parlour in flames. When I was 

has 
young I always awoke at an early hour. I began 
my exercise a few minutes ago. I began my 
apprenticeship [on] the eighteenth of October, 
[one] thousand eight hundred [and] sixteen. When 
I was eighteen, I already began to put money by. 

de cdte 
I bade him hold his tongue this morning or 
he would have abused you. My aunt bade me 

dire des sottises 
always (return home) at ten o'clock. I do not 

rentrer 
like that dog, it bit me once. Do you remember 
St. Catharine's [day,] last year, as I was passing 40 
la Ste. Catherine 

(by your door), your dog (flew at) me, and 
devant chez vous sejeter sur 

(bit) me in my arm ? Well, I have not 

/aire une morsure a 
yet recovered (from the wound) ; I was rubbing my 

en 
eyes when he bit 38 me. The surgeon bled me in my 
arm this morning ; he bled me twice last week ; my 
last surgeon never used to bleed me. In (getting out) 

sortir 



EXERCISES. 125 

of bed this morning, I knocked my watch down, and 
broke it. Last Sunday, as we were going to church, 
my brother fell, (and put his wrist out of joint). 

se demettre le poing 
When I was at school, I frequently broke panes of 

carreau de 
glass, which I was obliged to pay (out of) my 
vitre de 

(weekly allowance). My tailor brought me a coat 

semaine pi. 
the other day, that fitted me like a sack; he brought 

aller 
it me again this morning ; but I would not keep it. 
Your brother came to see me last week, and brought 

amener 
his friend with him. She brought me every day a 
basket of flowers, when I lived in that part of the 

quartier 
town. It is not long since I bought this hat, and it 
is already quite (worn out). On my arrival in 

use 
London, it was [on] the tenth of October, my friend 
and I went to make some purchases. I went into 

emplettes entrer 

a jeweller's [shop] and bought a ring, to make a pre- 
sent to your sister ; (you were not at home, but your 
mother well remembers it ;) I was going to present 
the ring to your sister, but it was of no use my 
feeling [for it] ; ring, purse, money, watch, all had 
fouiller 
disappeared: since that time I am always cautious 

sur mes gardes 
when I have occasion to walk through the streets of 

dans 
London ; I had very little experience at that time. I 
often bought what I had no need of at all, to please 



126 EXERCISES. 

my friends. I caught him once passing bad 

a donner faux 
money to me. I caught him again yesterday, 
going to play me the same trick. I often caught it 
qui allait 

when I was at school. He came to my bed-side 
to-day, and said (some very flattering things) to me, 

des douceurs 
but I was on my guard, and would not (pat my hand to) 

signer 
any paper. He came to see me yesterday, to try if 
he could pump me. He came every day to ask me 
for money, until at last I was obliged to tell him that I 
would order my servant to shut the door (in his face) 

au nez 
the next time he came. 

Rule 41. — The past participle agrees with its 
direct* regimen, if that regimen precede it ; when it 
does not precede it, in all verbs conjugated with 
avoir, the participle remains invariable. 

This rule applies to all active verbs, whether 
reflective, reciprocal, pronominal, or not. 

EXAMPLES OF THE REGIMEN DIRECT. 

The watch that I bought. La montre que fat achetee. 
Your sister was angry. Votre soeur s'est fdchee. 

The lady whom you saw* La dame que vous avez vue. 

(In the above examples, the participle agrees with 
the que or se that precedes, because those words are 
directly governed by it.) 

* The direct regimen is that word which is governed by the 
verb, without the aid of a preposition. 



EXERCISES, 127 

EXAMPLES OF THE REGIMEN INDIRECT. 

Tr . , , , .„ j , t n ( Votre sceur s'est donne 
Your sister has killed herself. < * . 

That lady has been pleased to 1 Madame sest plu a me 
contradict me. / contredire. 

They have spoken to one S mle$ sg gm ^ 
another. ) r 

(In the first two examples, se stands for a elle- 
meme, and in the last for a elles-memes ; conse- 
quently the participle does not agree.) 

Rule 42. — The past participle agrees with the 
nominative case of the verb, in all passive verbs, and 
in neuter verbs conjugated with etre, as : 

Your sister has been punished. Votre sosur a ete piinie. 

v . r ,, n i i ( Votre cousine est tombee 

i our cousin fell from her horse. < , 7 7 

( de cheval. 

N.B. Neuter verbs can have no direct regimen, 
therefore the participle of a neuter verb, conjugated 
with avoir y remains invariable, as : 

The leagues I have walked. Les Ueues quefai fait. 

The hours I have been running. Les heures quejai couru* 

DIFFICULTIES OF THE PARTICIPLE. 

Rule 43. — Sometimes the participle is followed by 
another active verb, which governs the preceding 
noun; care must be taken, then, not to make the 
participle agree with it, as : 

The watch which I saw you purchase. La montre queje 

vous ai vu acheter. 
The ring I thought to have found. La bague que j' avals 

cru trouver. 



128 



EXERCISES. 



(Here vu and cru do not agree with montre and 
bague, because those nouns are not governed by 
them, but by the verbs acheter and trouver.) 

Rule 4A. — Sometimes the participle of a reflective 
verb is followed by the regimen direct ; when that is 
the case, the participle must not be made to agree 
with any word or pronoun that precedes it, but must 
remain invariable, because it is not preceded by its 
direct regimen. Ex.: 

Your mamma has imagined that. Voire maman s'est 

imagine cela. 
Your sister has made herself a fine gown. Voire soeur 

s est fait une belle robe, 

EXERCISE ON THE PARTICIPLE. 

We esteem nothing more than the favour we are 
requesting ; we esteem nothing less as soon as we 
have received 41 it. Several of the changes our globe 
has undergone, have been produced 42 by the motion 
of the waters. The men who have lived longest are 
not those who have reckoned the greatest number of 
years, but those who have made the best use of 
thosewhich heaven has allotted 41 to them. Stupendous 

Superbe 
mountains, who has established 41 you on your foun- 
dations ? Who has raised 41 your summits above the 
clouds ? Who has adorned 41 you with verdant fo- 
rests ? What sight is preferable to that of the per- 
sons we have rendered 41 happy ? Those very nations 
which have been considered 41 as savage [nations,] 
have admired and esteemed just, temperate and dis- 
interested men. All the dignities which thou hast 
asked 41 of me, I granted 41 them to thee immediately 
and without trouble. Demetrius Phalerius, having 



EXERCISES. 129 

been informed that the Athenians had overturned 
his statues : they have not, said he, overturned the 
virtue which [caused] them [to be] erected 41 to me. 
Racine and Boileau, as long as they lived, gave 44 
each other proofs of the sincerest esteem. In other 
places, the water has formed 44 subterranean passages, 

se pratiquer 
into 32 which rivulets flow during part of the year. 
Saturn, sprung from the union of heaven and earth, 
had three sons, who (divided 44 among themselves) 

se partager 
the dominion of the universe. The glory of men , 
ought always to be measured by the means they have 
used 41 to acquire it. Some of our authors have 
imagined 44 that they surpassed the ancients. It is 
in the shade of peace that the arts were born, 42 have 
prospered, and have been perfected. 41 Vice is a 
malady of the soul, the morQ shameful, as those who 
are attacked 42 by it, refuse to employ the remedies 
which would have cured 41 them ; and indeed it , is 
seldom we correct ourselves of the vices that have 
once taken 41 possession of our hearts. What lessons 
we should have lost, 41 if Cicero and Fenelon had 
not given 41 themselves up to the study of wisdom ! 
Many heroes have subjugated provinces, but few 
have repressed their own passions and conquered 41 
themselves. Epic poets have always delighted 41 in 
describing battles. It is the trouble which an author 
has given 41 himself, which causes his writings to be 
read 42 with pleasure. How many ages have passed 41 
away since the creation of the world ! How many 
kings have succeeded 41 each other on the throne of 
England ! The affair appearing of greater weight 

grave 
than was at first thought, the consuls resolved to 
begin the war. A hundred years of inactivity are 
g 5 



130 EXERCISES. 

not worth one hour which we have known 43 how to 
employ well. Calumny has always delighted 41 in 
shedding its venom on the purest virtues. Not to 
write correctly, evinces the little education we have 
received. 41 Nero, once master of the supreme power, 
did all the mischief he (could) 43 and committed all 

pret. indef. 
the cruelties he chose. 43 We cannot get rid of the 
shame which nature has implanted 41 in us ; if we 
wish to drive it from our hearts, it escapes into our 
face. Bad news always has spread 41 faster than 
good. Honour is like snow, which can never resume 
its splendour and purity, as soon as it has once lost 41 
them. Sir, said an informer to Louis de Bourbon, 
the brother of Charles the Fifth, here is a memorial 
which will inform you of several faults, which 32 per- 
sons whom you have honoured 41 with your benevo- 
lence, have committed 41 against you. Have you also 
kept a register of the services they have done 41 
me, replied the Prince ? Pericles was not long 
before he eclipsed the reputation which 32 some fool- 
ish declaimers and tiresome sophists had usurped. 41 
Pygmalion ate nothing but fruit, which he had 
gathered 41 himself in his own garden, or vegetables 
which he had himself planted ; 41 and which he had 
had 43 boiled. 



TWENTY-FOUR LESSONS 

ON THE SYNTAX 

OF THE 

FRENCH LANGUAGE. 



LESSON I. 

the article le, la, les, the. 



Rule 45. — A Substantive or any other part of speech used 
substantively, taken in a general, determinate, or partitive 
sense, requires the article, which agrees with that substantive 
in gender and number, and must be repeated before each. 

Man is mortal. Moderation is the wise manV 7 
treasure. Virtue ennobles youth. The most extra- 
ordinary 54 beauty is frail and mortal. Nothing 
should be said 10 in [the] presence of females, that 
can offend modesty, that can offend the ear of chastity. 
Every one 152 agrees now that astrology is the vainest 
and most uncertain science; but in the time of 

de 
Queen Catharine de Medici, it 101 was so much in 
vogue, that nothing was done 10 without consulting* 

* See note, page 27. 



132 EXERCISES. 

astrologers. The father and mother of that child 
are too kind. A man who is jealous of his repu- 
tation, frequents good 75 and shuns bad society. He 
is the richest and most liberal man that 21 I know. 
Poetry is attracting. Cities are, during winter, pre- 
ferable to the country. Man is only 149 estimable 
as much as he unites goodness and uprightness of 
heart to the talents and accomplishments of the 
mind. Let fools talk, knowledge has its price. Eat- 
ing and drinking have charms for him. The front 
of the house. The top of the door. The God of 
peace. Ciceros and Virgils are always rare. 



LESSON II. 

Nature, says Salvian, requires only [what is] ne- 
cessary ; reason will have [what is] useful ; self-love 
seeks [what is] pleasant ; the passions require [what 
is] superfluous. In order to* form a perfect society, 
meum and tuum and all private interest should be 
taken away. 10 Socrates is the first who 21 troubled 
himself about morality. Pass the salt-cellar. Vir- 
tuous men moderate their passions. Men who are 
fond of study, are misers of their time. In the 
golden age they 9 ate only 149 fruits and roots, and 
drank water. We had soup, fish, roast meat, and 
turkey for dinner ; and at the dessert, we had nuts, 
apples, pears, grapes, figs, cakes, and Madeira and 
Burgundy wine. Ignorance is the mother of admi- 
ration, error, superstition and prejudice. The apple, 
orange and cakes which you gave 41 me; and the 
nuts, filberts and almonds which you bought 41 for 
my sister, ought to be divided 42 between us. 

* See note second, page 3. 



EXERCISES. 133 



LESSON III. 

Rule 46. — The article is not used before substantives in 
an enumeration ; the preposition de but no article is used 
after words of quantity, after adverbs of negation or inter- 
rogation, and before an adjective preceding a partitive sub- 
stantive. 

Parents, strangers, friends, children, all bewailed 
him. Entreaties, kindnesses, offers, threats, nothing 
could move him. 103 He has great talents, and a 
great deal of wit : but few x friends and no money. 
So much self-love does not become you. Catiline 
had eloquence enough ; but little wisdom. He 
has good teeth. 

Exceptions. — When pas or point has no relation to the 
substantive, and after the adverb of quantity bien, the article 
is used. 

I will not use any injurious expressions to you. So 
dire mots 

that we do not commit 20 gross faults, our master 
generally* forgives us. It is many years since I saw 
your father. 

Mule 47. — When a partitive noun, with the adjective that 
precedes it, convey but one idea to the mind, the article is 
used. 

That man possesses wit and literature. Happy, 

belles-lettres 
if in his time for very good reasons, Macedon had 
had a lunatic asylum. 
petites-maisons. 

* See first note, page 3. 



134 EXERCISES. 

Rule 48. — No article is used when an apostrophe is made. 
Thou, you, and ye, before nouns apostrophized, are not to be 
expressed. 

Soldiers, follow me. 102 Answer, ye Heavens and 
seas, and you, earth, speak. 0, you lazy [boy], 
you naughty boy. Hold your tongue, you naughty 
[girl]. Ye little birds, why do ye sing when I 
am so sad ? 

LESSON IV. 

Rule 49.— Proper names take no article, except the names 
of some persons notorious for crime, those of actresses, and 
some Italian names. 

They 9 say that Lemaure kept up the bad operas 
by the beauty of her voice. Tasso and Ariosto were 
Italian Poets ; Titian and Poussin were painters. 
Enchantments would not succeed now in France 52 
nor in England; but in TassoV 7 time they were 
received all over Europe. The ideas of " Jerusalem 
Delivered" do not belong to Tasso, they are copied 
from Ariosto. Champmesle was a famous actress. 
Brinvilliers was a celebrated poisoner. 

Rule 50.— -Before a saint's day, we use la, the word fete 
being understood. 

I will pay you on Michaelmas [day] • I shall leave 
my house at Midsummer. It is St. Peter's day to- 
day. To-morrow will be St. Catharine's day. When 
is St. Nicholas' day ? 

Rule 51. — Proper names of rivers, kingdoms, countries, 
provinces, and distant parts, require the article. 

Rule 52. — The names of some kingdoms, however, when 
preceded by de or en, do not take the article. 



EXERCISES. 



135 



Rule 53.— An adjective used as the sur name f a sovereign 
takes the article, except Cesar- August e , Philippe- Auguste, 
Louis-Dieu-Donne, but a noun of number does not. 

France is north of the Mediterranean. I come 
from Japan, and am going to Jamaica. London is 
on the river Thames, Paris is on the Seine. I am 
going to England. I come from France. Charles 
the Bold. Alexander the Great. Louis the Great 
was the son of Louis the Just. George the Fourth 
and Louis the Eighteenth were cotemporary. 

Rule 54. — In a relative superlative, when the adjective 
follows, the noun, as well as the adjective, takes the 
article. 

The most skilful people sometimes commit the 
grossest faults. I am speaking of the most deli- 
cate matter. The happiest man is he who thinks 
himself so. 



LESSON V. 

Rule 55. — It is not necessary to repeat the article before 
adjectives, unless the qualities they express be contrary or 
opposite to each other. The word what, in a sense of ad' 
miration or irony, may sometimes be expressed by the ar- 
ticle. 

The good and bad will have their reward. [Both] 
young and old people should do their duty. Great 
and memorable actions cannot give celebrity, unless 
they have 20 virtue for [their] cause. The dreadful 
and inexorable hard-heart edness of the rich is 
the source of almost all human miseries. What a 
beautiful evening ! Oh ! what a fine child ! What 
a fine example to follow ! 



136 EXERCISES. 

Rule 06. — The before a comparative, is not expressed, in 
French ; the order of the sentence is, 1. plus, 2. the nomina- 
tive and verb, 3. adjective; the rest as in English. 

The more we desire a thing, the more it 101 seems 
to recede. The richer a man is, the more 46 cares 
he has. The more one drinks, the more one wants 
to drink. 



LESSON VI. 

a or AN. 

Rule 57. — A, an, or per, is translated by the article before 
nouns of weight, measure or quantity; by par before nouns 
of time or distance. 

Rule 58. — A or an must not be expressed after the word 
what-, before cardinal or ordinal numbers in quotations; be- 
fore names used in apposition, nor before a noun that indicates 
the title, profession, trade, country, or any other attribute of 
a former substantive. 

I bought some apples to-day, at sixpence a dozen. 
Butter is sold 12 at seven pence a pound. That cloth 
is sold at seventeen shillings a yard. I have six bro- 
thers : the first is a surgeon, the second a lawyer, 
the third a cabinet-maker, the fourth a dancing- 
master, the fifth a fencing-master, and the sixth a 
bookseller. Are you an Englishman ? No, sir, I 
am a Frenchman ; but I am neither a duke nor a 
marquis, neither a priest nor a bishop ; lama poet, 
sir. Telemachus, a work very much used in schools, 
was written by Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambrai, 
a very virtuous and learned man. What a fire ! 
What a shame ! What an impudent [fellow] ! 



EXERCISES. 137 

LESSON VII. 

THE ADJECTIVE. 

Rule 59. — The Adjective, in French, agrees with its sub- 
stantive in gender and number. 

Demi, half, and nu, bare, are invariable when before a sub- 
stantive, but agree with it when placed after; feu, late or de- 
ceased, is invariable when before the article, but agrees when 
after it. 

Rule 60. — When an adjective, participle, or pronoun, im- 
mediately follows several governed substantives, of different 
genders, it agrees with the last; if they are all of the same 
gender, it agrees accordingly; when they are separated from 
the verb, it agrees with the most worthy gender. 

Give me a good pen, and I will write a long letter. 
Give me good apples, and I will eat them all. I am 
going to put on my new* frock. We 9 find in most 152 
courtiers only 149 an affected politeness and cordiality, 
He has his feet and head bare. He has his head 
and feet bare. There is in true virtue, a candour, an 
ingenuity, in which we cannot mistake. The lowing 
oxen and bleating sheep came in multitudes ; they 
could not find stables enough to be at shelter. 

Rule 61. — Adjectives used as adverbs are invariable. 

She sings false. They speak loud. She stopped 
short. Walk straight, miss. Sit upright, miss. 

However we say : 

Une nouvelle mariSe. A new married lady. 

Une nouvelle venue, A new comer (f). 

Des fleurs fraiches cueillies. Fresh gathered flowers. 

* See note, page 25. 



138 EXERCISES. 

LESSON VIII. 



TOUT. 

Rule 62. — The whole, unaccompanied by a noun, is ex- 
pressed by le tout. 

Rule 63,-— -For the whole or all, followed by a substantive, 
use tout le, toute la, fyc. 

Rule 64.-— For all or every thing, when immediately fol- 
lowed by a verb, use tout without article or gender. 

Rule 65. — Every, before a noun singular, is expressed by 
tout, toute, but requires no article, except in every body, 
tout le monde ; but before a plural, it takes gender, number, 
and the article. 

Rule 66.— The w r ord tout in tout ce qui, tout ce que, all or 
every thing that, is invariable. 

Rule 67.- — Tout, signifying quite, entirely, or the former as, 
in a sentence, varies only before a substantive feminine 
beginning with a consonant. 

The whole is good for nothing. The whole often 
consists in what 136 appears nothing. All the pains 
I have taken are lost. 42 All is lost. Every thing 
vexes me. Every man may lie ; but every man does 
not lie. It is a folly to 148 wish to please everybody. 
The English assemble every year at Christmas, to* 
eat plum-pudding 45 and roast-beef. All that you 
say does not persuade me. He criticised every thing 
I said. In whatever you do, be not hasty. (Away 

Loin 
with) those maxims of flattery, that kings are born 
de moi 
skilful, and that their souls emanate from God quite 

* See note second, page 3. 



EXERCISES. 



139 



good and wise. The greatest philosophers, as enlight- 
ened as they are, do not know the cause of many na- 
tural effects. 



Whatever, however, howsoever, though ever so. 

Rule 68. — Whatever, before substantives, and however, 
howsoever, though ever so, before an adjective, are trans- 
lated by quelque followed by que, the next verb in tbe sub- 
junctive. The order, in French, is: 1st, quelque — 2nd, 
adjective or substantive — 3rd, que — 4th, nominative and 
verb ; should the nominative however be a substantive, put 
it after the verb. 

Rule 69. — Quelque takes an s only before a substantive 
plural. 

Though ever so skilful and enlightened, let us not 
make a vain display of our knowledge. Whatever 
riches you may* enjoy, whatever advantages you 
may possess, you will not be happy, if you cannot 
repress your passions. 

Rule 70. — For whatever, followed by a substantive and 
the verb to be, use quel que, in two words, making quel 
agree with the substantive. 

Whatever your birth or your dignities may be, 
you should* despise no one. Whatever your confi- 
dence in him may be, you do wrong to trust him so 
much. 

Rule 71. — Quelque chose, something anything, is mascu- 
line. 

Rule 72. — Excepte and suppose are prepositions, when 
placed before, and adjectives when placed after, a substan- 
tive. 

* See note, page 32. 



140 EXERCISES. 

Do you see any thing on earth that is permanent ? 
Except your sisters, all the family looks sad. Sup- 
pose these principles, what follows ? Your sisters 
excepted, all the family looks sad. These principles 
being supposed, what follows ? 



LESSON IX. 

THE PARTICLE le. 

Mule 73. — The word so, whether understood or not in 
English, must, in French, be expressed by le invariable, 
whenever it relates to an adjective, participle, or verb pre- 
ceding, and by the article when it refers to a substantive. 

Are you certain of that, miss ? Yes, I think I 
am. Are you related, ladies ? Yes, we are. Nobi- 
lity, granted to the fathers, because they were virtu- 
ous, has been left to the children, that they might 
become so. Is she convinced of her mistake ? No; 
but she soon will be. Are you this gentleman's 
sister ? Yes, sir ; I am. Madam, are you married ? 
Yes ; I am. 

Rule 74. — Le is also invariable before plus, moms, and 
mieux, when it forms, with these words, a superlative adverb. 
It is likewise invariable in a superlative, where there is no 
comparison. jhL 

The good use of time is one of the things which 
/Contribute most to our happiness. One of the 
things which tire most, and of which we are least 
aware, are useless repetitions. 45 That woman does 
not weep even when she is most afflicted. He had so 
much 46 affection for his children, that he could not 
resolve to punish them, even when they were most 
guilty. 



EXERCISES. 141 



PLACE OF ADJECTIVES. 

Rule 75.— -All the pronominal adjectives, except quelconque, 
all numeral adjectives, except after the name of a sovereign; 
beau, grand, mechant, petit, saint, vieux, bon, gros, vrai, long, 
vilain, cruel, honnUe, jeune, mauvais, aimable, and pauvre, 
are always placed before their substantives. Cher is put 
before when it means beloved, and after when it means 
costly; all other adjectives may, in the familiar style, be 
safely put after their substantives. 

Some other adjectives may, in peculiar expressions, be 
found before their substantives, as : un blanc bee, a beardless 
youth ; un rouge trogne, a drunkard's face ; une verte vieil- 
lesse, hale old-age ; un vert galant, an active, gallant young 
man, &c. 



LESSON X. 

THE PREPOSITIONS de AND OL. 

Rule 76. — After any word of quantity, scarcity, plenty ; 
after sorte, espece, melange, quelque chose, rien, and que and 
quoi used as admiratives, put the preposition de. 

A confectioner sells all kinds of sweetmeats. What 
is 139 more sad, than to see the father of [a] family 

un 
lose all his property? What experience adversity 
gives us ! Something more than birth is required 
to make us^reat. Fifty pounds of wheat contain 
forty pounds of flour. Nothing is rarer than a true 
friend. It is better to have few enemies, than many 
friends. I have something rare to show you. What 
species of animal is that ? It is a mixture of wine 
and cider. If we 9 are poor in whatever we covet, 
the avaricious and ambitious are in extreme poverty : 
if we are rich in what we do not covet, the wise man 
is truly rich. 



142 EXERCISES. 

Rule 77. — The English possessive case must have its natu- 
ral construction, in French, thus : My brother s book will be - 
the book of my brother. 

Yonder is my uncle's house. He is my father's 
intimate friend. My grandmother's brother's wife 
is still alive. A boys' school. St. James's-street. 
St. Thomas's hospital. 

Rule 78. — When, in English, two words meet, forming a 
compound word, the former expressing the nature, quality or 
country of the latter, the former is placed last, in French, and 
takes de before it. 

Rule 79. — When, however, the former expresses the use of 
the latter, the preposition a must be used, and if it is the 
name of any thing eatable, the article must be used too. 

He always wears a red cotton night-cap. I am 
very fond of Burgundy wine. It is a brick house. 
You want a hand-saw. Whose 128 wind-mill is that ? 
It is a water-mill. Are you fond of apple-pie ? I 
am just come from the fish-market. Where is the 
poultry-market ? 



LESSON XI. 

Rule 80. — When a noun taken in a general or indetermi- 
nate sense follows a participle and the preposijton of, by, with 
or from, it must be preceded by de only. IT the noun be 
taken in a specified or determinate sense, the article, of course, 
must be used. 

He* is a young man endued with virtue. Alex- 
ander usedf to send his enemies away loaded with 
presents. He is deprived of every [thing]. The 
arts are loaded with a prodigious nember of rules, 

* See note, page 32. t See note, page 20. 



EXERCISES. 143 

which are [either] useless or false. The world ^s 
full of critics, who, by dint of commentaries, defini- 
tions and distinctions, have succeeded in rendering 
obscure the clearest and simplest sciences. He is a 
young man endued with the qualities requisite for 
such an office. The enemies of Alexander went 
away loaded with the presents he had made them. 

Rule 81. — After passive participles use de if they express 
an emotion of the mind, and par if the hody alone is con- 
cerned ; but to avoid repetitions use de or par indiscrimi- 
nately. See Rule 10. 

An ignorant and proud young man is despised by 
all who know him. Rome was built by Romulus. 
The Gauls were subdued by Csesar. Your work has 
been praised, in a very delicate manner, by a great 
academician. A great part of the earth has been 
conquered by the Romans. My sons, you will be 
loved and esteemed by all who know you, if you are 
good and modest. His conduct was unanimously 
approved of by all honest people. 

Rule 82. — A participle or adjective after a cardinal num- 
ber takes de before it. 

There were three thousand men killed, five hun- 
dred wounded, and fourteen hundred taken pri- 
soners. 

Rule 83. — An adjective of dimension is elegantly turned 
into a substantive with de before it, de being also put before 
the noun of number ; but when avoir is used instead of etre, 
to be, de is omitted before the noun of number. 

Rule 84. — By, after a comparative, and than, before a noun 
of number, are both expressed by de. 

Rule 85. — In, after a relative superlative, is expressed 
by de. 



144 EXERCISES. 

• The walls of Babylon were two hundred feet high, 
and fifty feet broad. The well in our garden is 
thirty feet deep. You are a head taller than I am. 
Your foot is longer than mine by two inches. I have 
lost more than twelve guineas. Those apples are 
more than half rotten. He is the most important 
man in the city. He is the happiest man in the 
world. 

LESSON XII. 

Rule 86. — After adjectives, followed, in English, by in; 
after those which signify aptness, fitness, readiness, likeness, 
or their contraries ; after sensible, insensible, attentif, insup- 
portable, and many others of like signification, a must be 
used. Some adjectives, and chiefly those which express 
amiable qualities, followed in English by to, require envers 
in French. 

Mankind, ever ready to enter into unsuccessful 
quarrels about religion, have seen to what excess the 
spirit of party can lead at last. All mankind are 
subject to death. There are many things good to 
eat, which are disagreeable to my taste. Your bro- 
ther is very prone to idleness. Our dress is not like 
that of the ancients. Less attentive to please the 
world than his God, the wise man laughs at the 
opinions of men. The wise man, exact in his duty, 
fears neither present evils, nor misfortunes to come. 
God is merciful to all. 

CONCORD OF THE VERB WITH ITS NOMINATIVE. 

Rule 87. — A noun of multitude, when it conveys to the 
mind an idea of totality, governs the verb in the singular ; 
when it does not, it is the noun by which it is immediately 
followed which governs the verb. 

Rule 88. — La plupart, used by itself, requires a plural. 
So many years of intercourse were chains of iron 



EXERCISES. 145 

that attached nie to those two men. We 9 see a 
great number of persons capable of performing a wise 
action ; we see still a greater number capable of per- 
forming a skilful and cunning action ; but very few 
are capable of performing a generous one. The little 
patience he evinced, proves him to be impatient. 
Most people are equally ready to receive impressions, 
and negligent in examining them. Most people 
agree that he is in the wrong. The infidels' army was 
entirely defeated. The forest of Ardennes is west 
of Luxembourg. 



LESSON XIII. 

Rule 89. — Several nouns singular require a verb plural ; 
but when not united by a copulative conjunction, the verb 
may remain in the singular. 

Rule 90. — When the nouns are nearly synonymous, even 
though united by a conjunction, the verb may remain in the 
singular. When the nominatives are united by the disjunc- 
tive ou, the verb agrees with the last. 

The mild behaviour, the kindness of Henry the 
Great,, has been celebrated by a thousand praises. 
It is not necessary that the whole universe should 
arm itself to destroy man ; a vapour, a single drop 
of water, is sufficient to kill him. The king and the 
shepherd are equal after death. The tumult and 
agitation that surround the throne, banish from it all 
reflections, and never leave the sovereign to himself. 
His piety and uprightness gained him that respect. 
Their anxiety and grief are the effect of the punish- 
ment of sin. Fear or impotence prevented them from 
moving. 

Rule 91. — When the subjects are of different persons, even 
when united by on, the verb agrees in the plural with the 
H 



146 EXERCISES. 

first person rather than the second, and with the second 
rather than the third, and the plural pronoun of the most 
worthy person is placed before the verb. 

Rule 92. — Neither followed by nor is expressed by ni re- 
peated. Neither is expressed by ni Tun ni V autre ; both 
govern the verb, with ne before it, if both can affect the 
action of the verb ; if not, the verb must be in the singular 
number. 

Either you or I will go. Either you or he is 
wrong. Your brother and I are going to France. 
You and your brother are both very idle. Neither 
glory nor grandeur makes us happy. It will be 
neither the duke nor the count that will be ap- 
pointed ambassador. Neither mildness nor violence 
can avail anything in it. Neither he nor I have ever 
studied. They might both have been mistaken, but 
neither was mistaken. 



Rule 93. — The word both, when followed by and, is ex- 
pressed, in French, by et, or left out altogether. 

Rule 94. — When followed by a substantive, both is expressed 
by les deux. 

Rule 95. — When used by itself, as a nominative, in refer- 
ence to two substantives, both is expressed by Vun et V autre, 
and governs the verb in the plural. 

Rule 96. — When both, either, or each other, is governed by 
the verb, it is expressed by Vun V autre ; and if the verb re- 
quire a preposition, that preposition must be placed between 
them. 

The liar and the flatterer are equally contemptible ; 
both make a very bad use of the free gift of speech. 
I have a great esteem for both. He says no good of 
either. Show me a provincial town, where the inha- 
bitants do not slander each other. Henry the 



EXERCISES. 14? 

Fourth, and Elizabeth, had a great esteem for each 
other. I have read both the letters, they pleased 
me much. 

Both chaste Diana and august Juno shall gua- 
rantee the performance of my sacred promises. 
Wolves do not fight against each other, nor give 
each other ugly wounds with pointed instruments ; 
in fine, they do not kill each other. 



LESSON XIV. 



PRONOUNS. 

Rule 97. — Familiarity alone can authorise the use of tu, te, 
tot, ton, ta, tes, le tien, la tienne, les tiens, les tiennes. 

Rule 98. — In addressing persons, whose birth or station 
claims ceremonious respect, make their title the subject of 
the verb ; if no title, use Monsieur, to a gentleman, Madame, 
to a married lady, and Mademoiselle, to a young lady : use 
the same before the names of any of their relatives of whom 
you speak. 

Do you wish me, My Lord, to relate that story ? 
Will you have the kindness, sir, to tell me what 
o'clock it is ? Will you permit me, madam, to offer 
you an orange ? How does your mother do ? Will 
your sisters honour us with their company to tea this 
evening ? I am sorry your brother cannot come. 

PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 

Rule 99. — The personal pronouns, in the nominative, are 
expressed hyje, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, Us, elles. 

Rule 100. — Before or after qui, que and seul; after prepo- 
sitions (provided they do not refer to inanimate objects) ; in 
answer to questions ; when joined by a conjunction to a noun 
H 2 



148 EXERCISES. 

or another pronoun ; in fine, when any distinction, opposi- 
tion or particular emphasis is used, the personal pronouns are 
expressed by moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles. 

Rule 101. — It is expressed by elle, and theyhy elles, when 
they refer to feminine nouns. 

I am reading. We are working. I only pity 
myself. Is it they who are speaking, or you or he ? 
Is it they whom I see disputing yonder ? They alone 
shall be punished. In so great a reverse of fortune, 
what have you left ? Myself. Who knocks ? It 
is I. He and they shall go; you and I will stay. 
I stopped and he went away. My sister and they 
are arrived. He prefers France, and I, England. 
He likes wine, and I prefer beer. Scopas has writ- 
ten a book against you. He ! I forgive him with all 
my heart. It is impossible for a man of a bad dis- 
position to love the public good ; for how could he 
love a million of men, he who has never loved any 
one ? You have spoken ill of me. I speak well of 
you, you speak ill of me ; how great is our misfor- 
tune ! neither of us are believed. Consider how 
avarice corrupts everything, how it overthrows every- 
thing, how it treats men, not as slaves, but as beasts. 
Lend me your knife. — No, I mend my pens with it. 
— I could not write a quarter of an hour without it. 
Do you see yonder tree ? — Yes, your brother is 
seated under it, and your sisters are standing by it. 



LESSON XV. 

Rale 102. — Personal pronouns in the objective case, after 
the first or second person of an imperative affirmative* are 
translated by moi, toi, lui, nous, vous, le, la, les, ieur. 

Rule 103. — When two imperatives affirmative meet, the 
governed pronouns are placed after the former and before 



EXERCISES. 149 

the latter. After any other tense, they are expressed 
me, te, se, le, la, no\, -:. les, which are always placed 

befor- the verb, and in the compound tenses before the 
anxil: 

Listen to me : give me some money. I dc 
find myself disposed to sleep. I take thee for wit- 
ness. God, who madest me. He sees himself now 
obliged to surrender. I see him. I see her. I 
them. He loves us. He loves you. He loves him- 
self. Separate them, father, and let me die. Either 
give or lend it to me. 

Rule 104. — When the French verb governs de, express the 
sonal pronouns as after a preposition, except him, her. it 
and them, for which use en, 

R:."-: 105. — The words some, or a :::/. when used alone, in 
to something before mentioned, are rendered by 

Do you often speak oi my sisters, at your house ? 
Yes. we very often speak of them ; my brother is 
quite delighted with them, but my father has com- 
plained of thern, more than once ; he says they are 
never serious. I have some oranges : have you any ? 
Yes, I have some ; but you may give me some of 
yours, if you like. 

E: le 106. — When the verb requires the preposition a to 

be expressed, use the personal pronouns as after a preposi- 

:::r ; bv.: vrher. :: is ::•:■: necessary to express a, use me, te, 

-:ur, before the verb. For Jul, to it, and 

referring to any inanimate objects, except 

plants, use y. 

Rule 107. — When, however, inanimate objects are perso- 
e i, you may use lui, for to it, and leur, for to them. 

Rule 10S. — r and en are sometimes adverbs. 
He often speaks to me about you. Does he ever 



150 EXERCISES. 

speak to you about me ? He never speaks to us. 
Is lie fond of my cousins ? No, lie never speaks to 
them. Fetch your slate and tie a sponge to it. You 
are wrong to listen to those tales ; I pay no atten- 
tion to them myself. Take this bird and clip its 
wings. This plant wants water, you must give it 
some. Those trees are too loaded, you must take 
part of the fruit off them. Keep that sword, you 
owe your life to it. That book cost me dear ; but I 
am indebted to it for all I know of the French lan- 
gauge. Have you been to Calais ? Yes, I have 
been there several times, I am just arrived from there 
now. 

Rule 109. — The impersonal verb it is, must be translated 
by cest, except only before eux, elles or a substantive plural, 
then use ce sont ; when used interrogatively, the answer must 
be preceded by ce. 

Rule 110.— After peut-etre, au moins, aussi, ainsi, and en 
vain, at the beginning of a sentence, the pronominal nomina- 
tives may be placed after their verbs. 

Rule 111.— The nominative cannot be separated from its 
verb by an adverb; but only by ne or a pronoun. 

It is the number of the people and the abundance 
of food which constitute the real strength and the 
true wealth of a kingdom. It is the ungrateful, the 
liars, the flatterers, who have extolled vice. It is 
they who are speaking. Is that your knife ? Yes, 
it is. Are those your children? Yes, they are. 
Perhaps he will succeed, with the assistance of his 
friends. She had scarcely opened her bed-room 
door, than several of her servants took refuge there. 
I do not like your brother, he always asks me so 
many foolish questions. 



EXERCISES. 151 



LESSON XVI. 

Rule 112. — When several governed pronouns meet, this 
is their order : 

Me, te, se, nous, vous, come before le, la, les, 
Le, la, les, before lui, leur. 

Lui, leur, before y. 

Y, before en. 

Rule 113. — Except when moi and y meet, then y comes 
before moi, and if the verb be in the second person singular 
of the imperative, an s must be added, if it have not one. 

Rule 114. — When moi and en meet, they are contracted 
into m'en* 

Lend me your book, I will return It to you to-mor- 
row ; if you refuse it me I dare say I shall be able 
to do without it. I will speak to them about it, and 
will give you an exact account of it. Transport me 
thither. Conduct me thither. Do not eat all the 
cake, give me a small piece of it. 

Rule 115, — The pronouns of the first and second persons 
are usually repeated, those of the third are repeated only 
when the verbs are in different tenses, when one is negative, 
and the other affirmative, or after conjunctions, except et 
and ni. 

You shall love your enemies, bless them that curse 
you, do good to them that persecute you, and pray 
for them that speak ill of you. I maintain and 
always will, that one cannot be happy without virtue. 
They are and always will be in error. They are 
poor, because they are indolent. He is foolish, but 
not wicked. Whilst the king was reading, Clement 
struck him and left the knife in the wound. The 
king was seated ; he rose, pulled the knife out of 



152 EXERCISES. 

his body, and struck the murderer on the forehead 
with it. 

Rule 116. — Himself, herself, themselves, are expressed by se 
when the verb is reflective, by lui-meme, elle-meme, eux- 
memes, elles-memes, when the verb is not reflective, or after a 
preposition, and never by soL One's self is expressed by 
soi; so likewise is itself, when it refers to a noun, taken in a 
general sense, or to an indefinite pronoun. 

He thinks himself unhappy. She gives herself a 
great deal of useless trouble. They found them- 
selves unable to fight. Your sister is always speak- 
ing of herself. Indiscretion often betrays itself. 

Such is the eternal command of the God we serve ; 
[He] himself marked us out his temple and his altar. 
To excuse in one's self the foolish things that we 9 
cannot bear in others, is to prefer being a fool one's 
self than to see others so. We often stand in need 
of an humbler [person] than ourselves. Egotists think 
only of themselves. Authors suspect what presents 
itself to them of its own accord. Loadstone attracts 
iron. 



LESSON XVII. 



POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. 

Rule 117. — Possessive pronouns agree with the noun which 
they precede, and must be repeated ; they are used, though 
not in English, before the names of relations. 

Rule 118. — When the verb expresses an action over any 
part of the body, instead of the possessive pronouns, we use 
me, te, se, lui, nous, vous, or leur, before the verb, and put the 
article before the substantive. 

His father, mother and sisters, are all ill. His 
brother and sister, and my father and mother, were 



EXERCISES. 153 

at the theatre last night. Mother, I have lost my 
gloves. "Well, daughter, look for them. My bro- 
ther has broken his leg : not a day passes but some 
accident happens to the family ; yesterday, Caroline 
cut her little finger ; last week, George had a fall 
and hurt his heel ; and, about a fortnight ago, you 
know, I myself broke my arm. I have a pain in 
my head, and my tooth aches. Your brother has 
broken his slate. 

Rule 119. — We make use of dame, demoiselle, and seigneur, 
instead of madame, mademoiselle, and monseigneur, when we 
have occasion to put an article, pronoun or adjective before 
them. 

Rule 120. — Monsieur, madame and mora seigneur are some- 
times followed by an article ; monsieur may even take a pro- 
noun before it. 

The president, the countess, and the bishop, were 
there. Those gentlemen are Germans : the gentle- 
man that follows them is a Frenchman. That lady 
is blind ; that young lady is her daughter. 

Rule 121. — Its and their are expressed by son, sa, ses, leur, 
leurs, when the word to which they relate is the nominative 
to the preceding verb ; when not, use en before the verb, and 
put the article before the substantive. 

Rule 122. — The article should be used instead of the pos- 
sessive pronoun, whenever the sense sufficiently indicates the 
possessor. 

That garden is delightful, do you not admire the 
beauty of its walks, and the simplicity of its par- 
terres. The river Seine has its rise in Burgundy, 
and its fall in Havre de Grace. The king's palace is 
a magnificent building, but its gates are too nar- 
row. Your letter, which you took so much pains to 
h 5 



154 EXERCISES. 

compose, was not received. Your horses, of which 
you boast so much, are riot so fine as mine. Your 
hands, which you take care to wash six times a day, 
will never be so fair as your mother's. 

Rule 123. — The personal pronouns, in the possessive case, 
are expressed by mon, ton, son, &c, when they follow a sub- 
stantive and the preposition of. 

Rule 124. — Mine, thine, &c, after the verb to be, are ren- 
dered by a moi, a toi, &c, otherwise mine, thine, his, &c, are 
expressed by le mien, le tien, le sien, &c. 

A friend of yours told me this morning, that you 
wish to take a house of mine at Paris. This hat is 
yours, the other is mine. This is your book, I think ? 
No, it is mine. 



LESSON XVIII. 

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS. 

Rule 125. — Ce, this or that, must be repeated before each 
substantive. When this and that are used before two nouns 
in the same sentence, the noun after this takes ci ; and the 
noun after that takes la. Celui-ci, celui-la, are used for this, 
that, or the former, the latter, in reference to two nouns before 
spoken of. Ceci and cela are used in reference to indeter- 
minate objects. 

All these apples, pears, plums and nuts are out 
of my garden. The body perishes, the soul is im- 
mortal ; yet the former has all our attention, whilst 
the latter is neglected. I do not like this ; give me 
some of that. 

Rule 126. — The word that or those, followed by of, is 
expressed by celui de, celle de, &c. ; that or those, followed 
by which, is also expressed by celui, celle,, &c, and which, 



EXERCISES. 155 

by qui or que, according as it is the subject or object of the 
verb. 

The pleasures of the mind are more lasting than 
those of the body. Your horses are not so fine as 
my father's; nor is your coach so pretty as my 
uncle's. The apples you have bought are better 
than those which have been 10 given to me. One 
cannot have a more interesting book than that which 
I am now reading. 31 

RELATIVE PRONOUNS. 

Rule 127. — Who is expressed by qui; whom, by que, when 
the direct object of the verb, and by qui, after a preposition ; 
whose, by dont, when it comes immediately after the substan- 
tive, and by de qui, if not; and from whom, invariably by 
de quL 

Rule 128. — The interrogative whose, is translated by a qui, 
which must be placed immediately before the verb, and the 
answer must be made a moi, d lui, &c. 

The young man who is docile will infallibly pos- 
sess some merit. The lady whom you often see at 
our house is not married. The gentleman in whose 
company I was yesterday evening speaks French 
very well. Lying is a vice for which you cannot 
have too much horror. The gentleman you speak 
of is a Dutchman. Mr. C._, to whose generosity I 
owe all that I possess, is lately dead. The friends 
to whom we wish to give our confidence should be 
well chosen. He from whom I have received this 
money still owes me fifteen hundred francs. Whose 
books are these ? They are yours. 



156 EXERCISES. 



LESSON XIX. 

Rule 129. — Which is expressed by qui when in the nomi- 
native, and by que when in the objective case; but after a 
preposition, or to avoid repetition or ambiguity, it is ex- 
pressed by lequel, laquelle, &c. : of which is expressed by 
dont, when it immediately follows its antecedent, but, if 
separated from it by another noun, by duquel, de laquelle, 
&c. 

That doctrine, which places the sovereign good 
in the pleasures of the body, is quite unworthy of a 
philosopher. The goodness of God, the effects of 
which we feel every day, ought to induce us to 
practise his commandments. Let us render our- 
selves capable of fulfilling the duties of the state 
to which God has called us. There was a little lamp 
there, by the light of which I could see all that was 
passing. As soon as I had got rid of the affairs 
of court, I went to the man who had spoken to me 
about the marriage of Madame de Miranion, who 
seemed to me of the same opinion. They resemble 
those nations who inhabit the torrid zone, who dart 
arrows against the sun. 

Rule 130. — He, she, they or those, before who, is expressed 
by celui, celle ; ceux, celles. 

Rulel3]. — In the elevated style, he who may be expressed 
by qui alone. 

Rule 132. — Celui, celle, cannot be separated from qui ex- 
cept by the participle la. 

He who receives more than he spends, is truly rich. 
He whose expense exceeds his revenue, is poor. He 
w T ho has no education, resembles a body without a 



EXERCISES. 157 

soul. He is rich, who receives more than he spends. 
He is poor, whose expense exceeds his revenue. We 
always hate [him] who obliges us to fear him. 

Rule 133. — Which, after a preposition and a verb signi- 
fying motion, at least figuratively, is expressed by ou. 

Rule 134. — Ou and d'ou are adverbs of place as well as 
pronouns. 

Rule 135. — Qui cannot relate to a verb, ce must be put be- 
fore it. When which, preceded by a preposition, relates to a 
noun which has the same preposition before it, it is expressed 
by que, without the preposition. 

Study 45 frees us from the errors into which the 
prejudices of a bad education had plunged us. 103 
Henry the Fourth 53 considered the good education 
of youth as a thing on which depended the happi- 
ness of kingdoms and nations. The angel warned 
the shepherds not 158 to take the same road by which 
they had come to Bethlehem. The family* that 
Tasso 49 came from was one of the most illustrious 
in Italy, and had for a long time been one of the 
most powerful. The house which your friend has 
just come out of, belongs to my uncle. Which way 
do you pass when you go tof your uncle's ? 98 
Where are you going now ? Whence do you come ? 
You eat much and sleep often, which is very inju- 
rious to health. A fountain cannot throw up soft 
water by the same pipe through which it 101 throws 

* Obs. — When maison is used to signify family, ou must 
not be used. The family from which he springs, La maison 
dont il sort. La maison d'ou il sort would signify, the house 
he is coming out of. 

t dt or to (a person's house) is expressed by che%, as : 
At your house Chez vous. 

At your cousin's Chez M. voire cousin. 



158 EXERCISES. 

up salt water. I received your letter with all the 
satisfaction with which such an honour ought to 
be received. 10 It is but 149 tyrants of whom I com- 
plain. It is you to whom it belongs to regulate this 
kind of business. 



LESSON XX. 



WHAT. 

Rule 136. — Whatis expressed by ce qui, when the subject; 
by ce que, when the direct object of the verb; by ce dont, 
when the verb governs de ; and by ce a quoi, when the verb 
governs a after it. 

Rule 137. — When ce qui or ce que begins a sentence, ob- 
serve to put ce also before the second verb, unless immediately 
followed by an adjective. 

What surprises me is, that so small a town should 17 
be so well fortified. That is what 32 all foreigners 
say. It is what they are always speaking of here, 
and it is to what I pay the least attention. 

What I cannot endure, is a man who is always 
talking to you about his own affairs. What I have 
told you is too true. 

Rule 138. — Quoi is used as a relative whenever it has ce, 
rien, or part of a sentence, for its antecedent. 

Rule 139. — When quoi is used in a sense of admiration, the 
verb is omitted. 

Rule 140. — Wherewith or enough to, in a like sense, is ex- 
pressed by de quoi. 

There is nothing on which 21 so much has been 



EXERCISES. 159 

written. 10 The diseases of the mind are the most 
dangerous, we should* labour to cure them ; yet it 
is what we 9 little think of. With prodigality, you 
will be generous for six months ; after which you 
will no longer be able to be so : 73 with wise eco- 
nomy, you will be generous all your lifetime. What 
is more pleasing to parents, than virtuous children ? 
He has wherewith to be contented. That man is 
disconsolate because he has lost a thousand francs, 
yet he has enough to live [on] . A just commenda- 
tion is enough to flatter us. He is a man who 
has good property. 

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS. 

Rule 141. — Which, followed by of, is expressed by lequel, 
laquelle, &c. 

Rule 142. — What, followed by a substantive, is translated 
by quel, quelle, &c. 

Rule 143. — What, without a substantive, is rendered by 
que or qu'est-ce que ? See Rule 5. 

Rule 144. — Is this? Is that? Are these ? &c., are ex- 
pressed by Est-ce-la, ? Sont-ce-la, ? 

Which of these cloths do you like best ? Which 
of your cousins learns Italian ? Which of your sis- 
ters is married ? What books are you reading ? 
At what chapter are you now ? What do you say ? 
What does your mother 32 say ? I did not hear her. 
Is this your book ? Are these your gloves ? Is that 
your friend ? Are those your friends ? 

* See note, page 32. 



160 EXERCISES. 

LESSON XXL 

QUE. 

Rule 145. — Que when used for whether, at the beginning 
of a sentence, governs the subjunctive mood; when used to 
prevent ihe repetition of si, it requires the subjunctive, but 
for comme or quand, in the middle of a sentence, it does 
not. 

Whether he go or stay, you will lose nothing by it. 
If he go and I know it, I will never forgive him. 
You always come to see me on the days when I am 
busy. As he desired it, and as I could do it, I did 
not refuse him. 

Rule 146. — Que is used, in the middle of a sentence, instead 
of many conjunctions composed of que, and governs the same 
mood as those conjunctions : it is also used instead ofcependant, 
and for pourquoi, at the beginning of a sentence, with the 
indicative. 

Rule 147. — Instead of repeating conjunctions composed of 
que or de, the que or de only is repeated. 

Come hither, in order that I may hear you say your 
lesson. Kings should never undertake a war, unless 
it be both useful and necessary. You must not 
go to play before you have said your lessons. En- 
deavour to send him the money without any one 
knowing it. Manage so that he may receive it to- 
morrow. I am surprised that you have not found 
your books again. Make haste to be gone, for fear 
your father should find you here. It is two years 
since I saw him. Are all the cups broken, since 
none are brought to me ? Wait until your mother 
comes. If I do not go to see you, it is because I 
have not time. Why do you not come to see me ? 



EXERCISES. 161 

you will always be welcome. Though misers had 
all the gold in Peru, yet they would wish for more 
still. Scipio acquired nothing, although he had been 
the master of Carthage, and had enriched his soldiers 
more than any other general. When a man is given 
up to his passions, and is known for what he is, 
he lives dishonoured; and those who apparently 
flatter him, truly despise him. In order to convince 
him and to cure him of all hope, I showed him my 
marriage certificate. 

Rule 148. — When the verb to be comes between two ex- 
pressions, either of which might be made the subject of the 
verb, the more important part of the sentence is put last in 
French, with que de before it, if in the infinitive ; and que 
only, if not. 

Rule 149. — Que is used for as or than, to unite two terms 
of comparison ; for but or only, with ne before the verb, to 
restrain a negative sentence ; and finally to express desire, 
command, imprecation, or indignation, in which case the sub- 
junctive mood is used. 

To keep a secret is a glorious thing. To see the 
father of a family lose all his property is a very sad 
thing. The folly of the crusades was a very strange 
thing. Asia is much larger than Europe. My eldest 
sister is but fourteen. Let him go, I do not want 
him. Let him be led to execution. Cursed be he 
who corrupts the morals of youth. 



162 EXERCISES. 

LESSON XXII. 

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS. 

ON. 

Rule 150.— On (see Rules 9 and 10) must be repeated be- 
fore each verb. 

Rule 151. — On becomes Von, after et, si, ou, and after que 
when a word beginning with com or con follows ; should, how- 
ever, le, la, or les, appear in the sentence, on alone should be 
used. 

They assemble, they conspire, they spread alarms, 
each citizen becomes a soldier, all Paris is in arms. 
If we knew how . to limit our desires, we should 
spare ourselves many evils and procure ourselves a 
great deal of good. There are some defects which 
people carefully hide. Weakness is a defect which 
people correct with difficulty. We learn much more 
easily the things we understand, than those we do 
not understand. People do not buy your book, nor 
will they eyer buy it, 

Rule 152, — Such a, or an, is expressed by TJn tel, une telle. 
Several, by Plussieurs, 

The same, by Le meme. 

Every one, every body, by Chacun, or tout 

le monde. 
Each, relating to a noun plu- 
ral, by Chacun. 
Every, before a noun, by Chaque. 
Most, most persons, by La plwpart. 
Somebody, any body, by Quelquun. 
Some or any, before a noun 

plural, by Quelques. 

Some or any, followed by 

of, by Quelques-uns, 

quelques-unes. 



EXERCISES. 163 

Rule 153. — Chacun requires son, sa, ses, for his, her, when 
it is placed after the object of the verb, and leur, leurs, when 
placed before. 

The same misfortunes which signalized the reign 
of Charles the Ninth were renewed by his brother, 
Henry the Third. Every one hopes he shall grow 
old. Every man has his duties to fulfil. Give every 
one his due. Those scholars have answered, each 
according to his knowledge. Csesar and Pompey 
possessed each their merit. You must give each 
his share. Each blow cost him a guinea. Somebody 
told me that you were going to be married. Do you 
think any one believed 19 it ? I have but 149 a few 
pence in my pocket. I know some of these rules. 
Do you know any of these gentlemen ? 

Rule 154. — Whatever, whatsoever, at the beginning of a 
sentence, are expressed by quoi que ce soit que ; quoi que or 
quelque chose que ; after a verb by quoi que ce soit, and when 
the verb' is followed by a preposition, by quoi que ce soit que 
with the subjunctive. 

Whatever he is engaged in, he leaves off as soon 
as his duty calls him. Whatever genius one may 
have, one cannot, without application, excel in any 
thing whatever. 

Rule 155. — Whosoever is expressed by quiconque. 

Nobody whatever, or any body whatever, with a 

negation, is expressed by personne or qui que 

ce soit. 
Whoever, immediately before you, by qui que. 
Nobody, no one, by personne, with ne, before 

the verb. 
Any body, by personne without ne. 
None, not one, or any, in a doubtful sense, by 

aucun. 

He gives to no one whatever. I very much doubt 
that your brother's conduct pleases any body. Who- 



164 



EXERCISES. 



ever you may be, you ought to be polite. No one 
saw me, and I saw nobody. He whom nobody 
pleases is more unhappy than he who pleases nobody. 
There was not a person that was not angry at it. I 
doubt whether any one knew mankind better than 
La Bruyere. Has ever any one been more simple 
in his narrations than La Fontaine? That house 
will suit him better than any one. I doubt whether 
there be any author without a fault. Out of all the 
works in the world, there is not one without a fault. 
I have seen none of your sisters this week. 

Rule 156. — No one, is translated by nul. 

No where, by nulle 'part. 

Nothing, by rien with ne. 

Any thing, by rien without ne. 

NE. 

Rule 157. — Ne is used before the verb after ni repeated; 
be fore jamais, never, and nullement, by no means. 

Rule 158.-— No, before a noun, is expressed by aucun with 

ne. 
No, in answers, by non. 
Not, with a verb, by ne before, and pas after, 

the verb. 
Ne pas come together before an infinitive 

mood. 
Not, followed by that, is expressed by non que. 

No one knows whether he be worthy of love or 
hatred. There is nowhere so much wealth as in 
England. Nothing is more common than the name 
of friend. It is dangerous to undertake any thing 
beyond one's strength. It is often better to do 
nothing than to do unprofitable things. He would 
neither eat nor drink. Behold the birds of heaven, 
they neither sow nor reap. Consider the lilies of 



EXERCISES. 165 

the fields, how they grow, they neither work nor 
spin. Your father never speaks to me, but he says 
that he by no means approves of your conduct to 86 
your brother. Your threats make no impression on 
him. I have no news to tell you. Are you married? 
No, Sir. I am not yet twelve years old. One must 
be very cunning not to be deceived in London. I 
will go to London, not that I like to be there, but 
because I have business there. 



LESSON XXIII. 

Rule 159.— The verbs, oser, to dare ; cesser, to be continually ; 
pouvoir, to be able; and savoir, in the conditional for pouvoir, 
have ne, without pas. Aot to know, used doubtfully, may be 
expressed by savoir, with ne only. 

When people 9 dare not blame a wicked prince, after 
his death, it is a sign that his successor resembles 
him. He is continually tormenting me. I cannot 
listen to you at present. He cannot refuse you that 
trifle. He knows not what he ought to do. I do 
not know whether I shall go to see you to-morrow, 
or the day after. 

Rule 160. — No more, not any more, followed by than, are 
expressed by pas plus, with ne; when not followed by than, 
by ne before the verb, and plus after, and, when by them- 
selves, by pas davantage. 

Rule 161. — Goutte, used with voir, to signify not at all; 
and mot, used with dire, to signify not a word, require ne, 
without pas. 

You have no more sense than your brother. I 
have no more money. Why do you not speak ? you 
do not say a word. A learned man sees twice as 



166 EXERCISES. 

much as others ; and an ignorant man does not see 
at all, even when he thinks he sees best. 



DISTINCTION BETWEEN pas AND point. 

Rule 162.— Point is a stronger negative than pas; pas is 
used when a question expresses doubt ; point, when it implies 
certainty. Point is used when speaking of a thing that is 
seldom done; pas, when a thing is only omitted to he done at 
the time of speaking. Point is used without ne in elliptical 
sentences. 

All the books you see in that library are not mine. 
None of the books you see in that library are mine. 
Taste this pear, is it not delicious ? Have you no 
money to lend me ? Your brother is not reading. 
Your brother does not read, that is why he is so 
ignorant. I thought him my friend ! but no, he 
hates me. 

LESSON XXIV. 

Rule 163. — Ne is used when there is no negative, in 
English; after autre, autrement, otherwise, or different; after 
a moins que, unless, de crainte que, de peur que, for fear or 
lest ; and after que, used for unless, before, since, until, which 
governs a subjunctive, in French ; and finally after que used 
for pourquoi, why, at the beginning of a sentence. 

They who speak otherwise than they think, are 
despised. I found him of a different character than 
he had been represented to me. I shall lose my 
way, unless I am shown a more direct road. Go 
and speak to your cousin immediately, for fear 
he should go away. Follow him, lest he should lose 
his way. I will not return this knife to you, unless 
you tell me where you found it. You will have no 
more money, until you behave better. I cannot 



EXERCISES. 



167 



lend you any more money before you have returned 
what you have already borrowed of me. It is six 
years ago since I saw your father. Why do you not 
go to see him ? Why have we not as much eager- 
ness for virtue, as we have for pleasure ? 

Rule 164. — The verb douter, used negatively, requires ne 
after que; ne is used without pas in this idiomatical phrase. 
N'en deplaise, if it please, or an't please. 

Rule 165. — Only, followed by a substantive, is expressed 
by seul, and when followed by a relative it governs a sub- 
junctive. 

I doubt not but reason assists us in making many 
discoveries, but, an't please the philosophers, the 
principal thing that it makes man discover, is his 
blindness, his impotence, and the necessity of divine 
revelation. 

You are the only man I know in London. You 
are the only one that says so. The verbs etre, avoir, 
savoir, and alter, are the only verbs, of which the 
second person of the imperative is not like the first 
person of the present of the indicative : we say, 
aie patience sois prudent, sache qu'il est honteux de 
mentir, va te coucher. 

For the syntax of the verb, see Rules 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 
17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25 to 44. 



168 EXERCISES. 



RECAPITULATORY EXERCISE. 

Those are the gentlemen with whom I travelled. 
Rarely are philosophers poets, and more rarely are 
poets philosophers. The wicked man suffers him- 
self to be led into every kind of excess, by the habit 
of never resisting his passions. I have often told 
you, and tell you again, that, in order to be happy, 
we should never look above, but always beneath, 
ourselves. A very poor curate said one day to a 
monk who was counting his money, You and I 
should make a good friar ; you have made a vow of 
poverty, and I keep it. That child gives me great 
satisfaction, and rewards me for the care I take of 
him. How many people there are without merit or 
employment, who would not be admitted into 
society, if their fortune did not introduce them ! 
When our hatred is too deep, it places us beneath 
those whom we hate. If thou hast a faithful friend, 
try to keep him. Dost thou love peace ? never 
speak but well of the absent. How does he, who has 
not deserved the affection of his parents, dare to ex- 
pect the favour of Heaven ? Has not death taken 
men by surprise, and will not it always do so ? 
When people give advice, why do they not give the 
wisdom to profit by it. In the midst of so much 
ignorance, man even adored the work of his own 
hands ; he thought he could confine the divine spirit 
in his statues ; and so completely did he forget that 
God had made him, that he thought in his turn he 
could make a God. He desires to conquer, and will. 
Labour is necessary to man ; it makes him spend 
moments of happiness, and procures him enjoyments 
that cannot be appreciated. What I told you, I 
believe, and shall believe, until you have proved to 



EXERCISES. 169 

me the contrary. If woman makes conquests by her 
beauty, she preserves them only by suavity of dispo- 
sition. Are you the merchants mentioned to me ? 
Yes, we are. Are you the lady I am seeking ? Yes, 
I am ? Are you hunters ? Yes, we are. I was 
indifferent (f) to you, and I see I am so still. Men 
have a right to repel might by might only when the 
law permits them. Self-love is captious ; it is how- 
ever what we take for our guide. Women have little 
imagination, their best writings are all, like them- 
selves, pretty and short. The planets communicate 
to us the light of the sun, and never their own. The 
pardoning of our enemies does not consist merely in 
not injuring them; we must, besides, love them truly, 
and do them a kindness, if an opportunity offers. 
When I see birds' nests formed with so much art, I 
inquire what master has taught them mathematics 
and architecture. The Cheltenham waters are much 
esteemed; I am indebted to them for my health. 
Each of us has an eye of complacency for himself. 
We are pleased with ourselves when we have done a 
good action. Whosoever loveth but himself is un- 
worthy of life. No one is a prophet in his own 
country (chez soi). He who offends truth, offends 
God, and offends himself; for he speaks against his 
own conscience. Happy he who lives at home, 
making all his business consist in regulating his 
desires. To live but for one's self, is to be already 
dead. The wise man is master of himself. Love is 
a fire that goes out of itself. Virtue is amiable in 
itself. Vice is hateful in itself. A kindness carries 
its reward along with it. All that is good in itself. 
He has a home. It is a good thing to suffer only 
those desires to spring up in our hearts which we 
can satisfy, even in our bad fortune. That child is 
more studious than children generally are at his age. 
i 



170 EXERCISES. 

A good and diligent child is beloved by every body. 
Grief that is concealed is but the more fatal. For- 
tune never appears so blind as to those to whom she 
does no good. The pink is not so beautiful as the 
rose. The fear of a misfortune often leads us into 
a worse. The greatest privilege of kings is to be 
useful to the wretched. The greatest punishment 
of the wicked is the remorse of conscience. Gaming 
is the father of vice. That scene is one of those 
that were most applauded. The style of Penelon is 
very luxuriant, fluent and smooth, but it is some- 
times prolix ; that of Bossuet is extremely elevated, 
but it is sometimes harsh and rough. He leads a 
sober, temperate, regular, and laborious life. There 
are men whom we must not call good men because 
they have performed an act of humanity. Privileged 
cases are excepted by law. They all perished, except 
five or six persons. They sent him a supposititious 
person. We must be ready to serve our friends in 
every thing, except against our conscience. Suppose 
you have taken an oath to commit a crime, both 
human and divine laws dispense you from keeping it. 
Those ladies speak low. Those flowers smell nice. 
Those persons stopped short. I take you all to wit- 
ness. Beauty in a woman is but the magic of a 
moment ; sense and virtue are alone made to please. 
The husband and wife are always unhappy, when the 
most perfect union does not exist between them. He 
had his mouth and eyes open. She acts with charm- 
ing nobleness and taste. Your brother and sister are 
clever, their knowledge and modesty are uncommon. 
A brilliant idea confused, is a diamond covered with 
mud. Grateful persons resemble those fertile lands, 
which give more than they receive. The good man 
is always ready to help him who is in want. As we 
cannot be happy without being pleased, it has been 



EXERCISES. 171 

falsely concluded that, as soon as we were pleased, 
we were happy. Out of a thousand inhabitants, 
there is not one rich. Out of a hundred thousand 
fighting men, there were but a thousand killed, and 
five hundred wounded. Whoever writes is made to 
put up with the shafts of malice. It is your brother and 
your friend who are inquiring for you. Csesar and 
Pompey had each their merit. That woman has 
imagined that coquetry is a way to please. The rule 
I have begun to explain is very easy. The vessels 
which I saw being built, were going to the East In- 
dies. I did not know that the lady I heard sing was 
your cousin. Do you know the lady you have suf- 
fered to pass? that lady is not so pretty as I thought. 
We should do well, if we followed the same advice 
we give to others. There is not one of my friends 
that 21 is for me, or will take my part. The fruit* 
that falls to the ground does not keep. Above all 
things avoid law-suits ; our conscience is often inter- 
ested in them, our health impaired, and property 
dissipated by them. When a man is dead we think 
little of him. He told me he would go there.f A 
mother who has virtuous children makes them her 
richest ornaments. Paris is a beautiful city ; I ad- 
mire its monuments and walks. Those trees are 
well situated, yet their fruit is not good. I received 
your letter that you wrote to me. Keep your pro- 
mises that you made me. My father, mother, bro- 
ther and sisters have been exposed' to the blackest 
calumnies. Every fruit has its peculiar flavour, a 
triangle has its three sides, every word has its accep- 
tation, every speech has its division, every language 
has its syntax and its rules. Meum and tuum are 

* Le fruit torribe a terre ; un arbre tomb e par terre. 
f Y, there, is not expressed before the future or conditional 
of the verb aller, to go. 

i2 



172 EXERCISES. 

j 

the source of all divisions and quarrels. Brutes, 
with their mere instinct, are often wiser than man, 
with his reason. Read Homeland Virgil; they are 
the two greatest poets of antiquity. Astronomers, 
who pretend to know the nature of fixed stars, assure 
us that they are so many suns. I have seen the 
Louvre ; it is magnificent and worthy of a great na- 
tion. Not to be 148 angry at any thing is having 
great command over one's self. Caesar was a great 
captain. To reward merit is to encourage it. To 
have prosperous children is being a happy father. 
The doing of a kindness to an honest man is obliging 
every body. 



INDEX 

TO THE IDIOMS. 



A. 

Able, to be able to Etre en Mat de 

About, to be about Etre question de, s'agir de 



to be about to Alley 

to set about S'ij prendre 



Abstain, to abstain from meat Fairs maigre 
Abuse (to) Dire des injures a 

Account, to give an account Rendre cornpte 
Accuse, to accuse, or lay to S'en prendre a 
Accustom, to accustom one's Se /aire 

self 
Ache, to ache, as : my head Avoir mal d, fai mat a la tete 

aches 
Acquaint (to) with Fair e part de 

Acquainted, to get acquainted Faire connaissance 
Act, to act, to personate Faire 

— , to act foolishly une folie 

Add, to add fuel to fire Mettre le feu anx etoupes 

Affect, to affect the manners of Trancher de 

Afraid, to be afraid Avoir peur 

After, to take after Tenir de 

Agree, to agree to whatever Passer par ou Von vent 

one likes 

to agree, to allow En demeurer d' accord 

Agreeable, to be agreeable to I! avoir pour agreable 
Agreed, to be agreed Etre d 'accord 

Ail, to ail Avoir 

Aim, to aim at, or take aim at Coucher en joue 
Alight, to alight Mettre pied a terre 

Allude, to allude to En avoir a 

Amiss, to be amiss Alter mal 

Angry, to be angry with En vouloir a 



174 



INDEX. 



Anticipate (to), to go and Alter au-devant de 

meet 
Anxious, to be anxious about Eire en peine de 
to appear, i. e., to Avoir Vair 



look 
Applaud (to) 
Approve (to) 
As (as I see, as it seems) 

Ashamed, to be ashamed 

to make ashamed 

Ask, to ask questions 
Attention, to pay attention 
Avail, to avail one's self of 
Aware, to be aware 
Away, to take away 



Applaudir a 
Trouver bon 
(ci ce que je vols, a ce qu'il 

parait) 
Avoir Jionte 
Faire Jionte 
Faire des questions a 
Faire attention 
Frofiter de 
Prendre garde 
Oter 

B. 



Bad, to be bad weather 

too bad 

Bake (to) 

Bankrupt, to be a bankrupt 

Be, there to be 

— to be (24 years old, &c.) 

— to be (followed by an 
infin.) 

— to be, (as I will be there) 

— to be over with 

— to be any thing but 

— to be with ... as 

— to be to 

— to be (a father, &c., to) 

— to be up to 

— to be one's hobby, one's 
chief excellence 

— to be in the habit of 

— to be full, or covered with 
Bear, to bear witness to 
to bear ill-will 



Faire mauvais temps 

Trop fort 

Faire cuire au four 

banqueroute 

Y avoir 

Avoir (24 ans, fyc.) 

Devoir 

Se trouver (as je m'y touverat) 

Etre fait de 

N'etre rien moins que 

En 4tre de . . . comme 

Faire ct 

Tenir lieu de (pere, fyc.) 

Etre au fait 

son fort 

Avoir coutume de 
En avoir 

Rendre temoignage de 
Savoir mauvais gre 



INDEX. 



175 



Become, to become acquainted 

Beg (to) n. 

Begin, to begin to 

Believe (to) 

Belong, to belong to 

Benumbed, to be benumbed 

Better, to be or to have better 

Bid, to bid good-bye 

Birth, to give birth to 

to owe one's birth to 

Bleed (to), (as my nose 
bleeds) 

Blind (to), meaning to de- 
ceive 

Boil (to) 

Bolt (to) 

Bound, to be bound for (sea 
term) 

Box (to) 

Break, to break out (speak- 
ing of fire) 

Bridle (to) 

Bring, to bring up to, to 
train 

to bring ill-luck 

to bring good-luck 

Burst, to burst out a-laugh- 
ing 

But, any thing but 



Faire connaissance 

JDemander Vaumone 

Se mettre a 

Aj outer foi a 

Etrea 

Ne se sentir pas defroid 

Valoir mieux 

Dire adieu 

Mettre au monde 

Devoir le jour ct 

Saigner de (as je saigne die 

nez) 
Jeta de la poadre aux yeux de 

Faire bouillir 
Fermer au verrou 
Alter a 

Se battre d, coups-de-poing 
Prendre cl 



Mettre unfrein ci 
Dresser a 

Porter mallieur 
Porter honheur 
Faire un eclat de rire 



Care, to take care 
to take care not to 

to care about 

Careful, to be over-careful 

of one's self 
Catch, to catch at it 

to catch it 

Cheap 



Avoir soin 

N' avoir garde de, or se gar- 

der bien de 
Se soucier de, s'embarrasser 

de, se mettre en peine de 
S'tcouter 

Y prendre 

En avoir 

A bon marche 



176 



INDEX. 



Clap, to clap hands 
Clear, to clear away- 
Clever, to be clever at 
Cloth, to lay the cloth 
Clover, to live in clover 
Cold, to be cold 

to be cold weather 

Collusion, to be in collusion 

with 
Colours, to strike colours 
Come, a thought comes into 
my head 

to come to acts of 

violence 

to come to (a person) 

Comfortable (to be) 
Compassion, to excite the 

compassion of 
Complete (to) 
Conceited (to be) 
Concerned, to be concerned, 

or at stake 
Confine, to confine one's 

self to 
Consequence (to be of) to 
Conversation (to turn the) 

— — , to enter into 

conversation 
Cook (to) neuter 
Coolly, to receive coolly 
Counterfeit (to) 
Courage, to have courage 
Court (to), to pay one's ad- 
dresses to 
Crown, to crown, to com- 
plete 

Dark, to be dark 
Daylight, to be daylight 
Deal, to deal (cards) 



Battre des mains 

Desservir 

Mre fort sur 

Mettre la nappe, or le convert 

Vivre comme un coq en pdte 

Avoir froid 

Fairs froid 

8' entendre avec, dtre-dHntelli- 

gence avec 
Baisser pavilion 
II me vient une pensie 

En venir aux mains 



Venir trouver 
Se trouver Men 
Faire pitie a 

Mettre le comble d, 
8' en faire accroire 
II y va de 

8'en tenir a 

Importer de 

Faire tomber la conversation 

Lier conversation 

Faire la cuisine 
Battre froid cl 
Faire 

Avoir du cceur 
Faire la cour a 

Mettre le comble & 

D. 

Faire nuit 

jour 

(les cartes) or donner 



INDEX. 177 

Deal, to have to deal with Avoir affaire a 
Death, to put to death Faire mourir 
Deceive (to), by false tales En faire accroire & 
Deficient, to be deficient in II manque cL 
Delight, to be the delight of Faire les delices de 
Deliver, to deliver (a letter, tenir [une lettre, Src) 

&c.) 
Depend, to depend upon 8e reposer sur 
Deprive, to deprive one's "\ 

self of \ S'oter 

to get out of the way ) t 

to deprive of Oter a 

Desire, to have a desire to Avoir envie de 

to desire ardently Mourir d' envie de 

Difficulty, to have a difficulty Avoir de la peine 
Dirty, to be dirty (weather) Faire sale 
Distrust (to) Se defter de 

Do, to have to do with Avoir de commun avec 

— to do without Se passer de 

— to do nothing but Ne faire que 

— to do with Tirer parti de 

— that will not do A d'autres 

— to do for, i. e.y instead Tenir lieu de 
Draw, to draw upon one's S'attirer 

self 

Dress (to), one's self Faire sa toilette 

Drive, to drive out or expel Chasser 

to drive over Passer sur 

Dry, to be dry, i.e., thirsty Avoir soif 

Duty, to be the duty to Etre a 

Dwell, to dwell upon one's Tenir au cosur 

mind 

E. 

Eat, to eat meat Faire gras 

Emulation (with) A Venvi, a qui mieux mieux 

Enable (to) Mettre enitatde 

Enter, to enter into conver- Lier conversation 
sation 

i5 



178 INDEX. 

Envy (to) Porter envie a 

to excite envy Faire envie H 

Escape, to escape from S y echapper de 

to escape (dangers, Echapper a (aux perils, §*c.) 

&c.) 
■ to escape Se sauver 
to have a narrow es- I? echapper belle 



cape 
Esteem (to) Faire cas de 

Evince (to) paraitre 

Excite, to excite envy 



to excite or strike liorreur 

with horror 

— to excite the com pHie* v 



passion of 

Exhausted (to be) N' en pouvoir plus 
Expect (to) S'attendre a 
Expense (to be at) Faire des depenses 
to be at the expense lesfrais de 

of 

F. 

Face (to) Faire face a 

Fade (to), spoil Se passer 

Fall, to fall into (a snare, &c.) Donner dans 

to fall out with Se brouiller avec 

to fall to the lot of Tomher en partage a 

to fall upon (victuals, Donner stir 

&c.) 

to fall upon and de- Faire main basse sur 



stroy, or carry away 
Far, to be far from Senfaillir que 
Fault, to be the fault of if Ne tenir qu'ci 
Find, to find fault with Trouver a redire a 
to find it worth one's Y trouver son compte 

while 

Fine, to be fine (weather) Faire beau 

to be fine again Se remettre au beau 

(to) Condamner a V amende 



INDEX. 179 

Fire, to fire at or on Hirer sur 

to set fire to Mettre le feu a 

Firm, to be firm Tenir bon 

Fish, to drink like a fish JBoire comme une eponge 

Foggy, to be foggy Faire du brouillard 

Forbid, God forbid A Lieu ne plane 

Forgive (to), a thing Pardonner {tine chose) 



(to) a person Pardonner a {une persomie) 



Friends (to), be friends again Se remettre avec 
Frighten (to) Faire jpeur a 

Fry (to) frire 

Full (to be), to repletion En avoir 

G. 
Game, to make game of Se jour de 
Get, to get or have (done) 

or any other expression Faire 

signifying to cause 

— to get rid of Se defaire de, se debarrasser 

de 

— to get out of trouble Se tirer d' affaire 

— to get out of a scrape d'embarras 

— to get into bed Se mettre au lit 

— to get or procure for Fair avoir a 

— to get into trouble Se faire des affaires 

— to get safe out of a bad Tirer son epingle du jeu 
business 

— to get acquainted Faire connaissance 
Give, to give up Se rendre 

to give way to or up to — laisser alter a 

to give it En donner 

to give satisfaction Faire raison 

to give an account Rendre compte 

to give reason Donner lieu or sujet 

Glory, to glory in Se faire gloire ou lionneur de 

Go, to go (to a place) — rendre a {tin endroit) 

— to go (a mile, &c.) Faire (un mille, fyc.) 

— to go without Se passer de 

— to go to see, or to go to Alter trouver (une persomie) 
(a person) 



180 INDEX. 

Go, to go and meet Alter au-devant de 

— to go on one's own way son train 

— to go to bed se coucher 

— to go to war Faire la guerre 
Granted, (to take for) Tenir pour assure 

granted or I grant it I)' accord ou fen demeure d* 

accord 
H. 
Habit, to be in the habit of Avoir coutume de 

Hand, to have a hand in part a 

Hardly, I can hardly J'ai de la peine a 

Have, to have it or hit it Y 4tre 

to have reason to Avoir sujet de 

to have a mind to envie de 

to have to do with, affaire a 

i.e., to deal with 
to have, signifying to Faire 

cause 

to have just Venir de 

to have left II me reste 

— to have but just Ne faire que de 

to have a spite against Fn vouloir a 

to have no occasion for N* avoir que faire de 

to have a hand in Avoir part a 

to have in one's head S'aviser de 

to have on one's hands Avoir sur les bras 

to have at one's dis en main 

posal 

■ to have like to Penser 

to have an intention to Avoir dessein de 

to have to do with de commun avec 

to have a pain in mal a 

Happen (to), as if you hap- Venir a (si vous venez a le 

pen to do so faire) 

Head, to knock one's head Bonner de la tete contre 

against 

Heady, to be heady a la tete 

Hear, to hear from Recevoir or avoir des nouvel- 

les de 



INDEX. 181 

Hear, to hear of Apprendre 

Heart (to have at) Avoir a cceur 

Help, I cannot help it Je n't/ puis que /aire 

Hit, to hit it Y tire 

Hobby, to be one's hobby Eire son fort 

Hot, to be hot, i. e., to feel Avoir chaud 
so 

; to be hot (weather) Faire chaud 

Hungry (to be) Avoir f aim 
Hurt (to), give pain to Faire mat a 
— (to) as it hurts me to de la peine de 

I. 

Idle talk, Des contes, des contes en Vair 

If . . . but a little Four peu que 

111, to take ill or amiss Trouver mauvais 

Imitate (to), a person Rendre 

Impose, to impose on by En faire accroirea 

stories 

Inclined (to be) Etreporte a 

■ (to feel) Le cceur nCen dit 

Incur (to) S'attirer 

Induce, to induce to Forter a 

Indulge, to indulge one's self S'en donner 

Intend (to) Avoir dessein 

Interrupt (to) Couper la parole a 

J. 

Join, to join the sport Se mettre de la partie 

— to join, to unite one's — joindre a 

self with 
Joke, to take a joke Entendre raillerie 

Judge, to be a judge of Se connaitre a 

Just, to have just Venir de 

to have but just Ne faire que de 

to be just the thing Eire son affaire 

K. 

Keep, to keep to S f en tenir a 

Kick (to) Donner des coups-de-pied 



182 



INDEX. 



Kindness, to do a kindness Faire plaisir a, faire des ami- 



to 
Know, to let know 



to know how 
not to know 



to know 



ties a 
connaitre, faire savoir, 



/aire dire a 
Savoir 
Ignorer 
Ne pas ignorer 



Lay, to lay to 

to lay a wager 

to lay under contribu- 
tion 

to lay the cloth 

to lay (a wager) 



Laugh, to laugh in one's face Mre an nez a 



S'en prendre a 
Faire unpari 
— — contribuer 

Mettre la nappe or le convert 
Gager,parier 



Leave, to leave to 



■ with your leave 
Left, I have left 
Lent, to keep lent 
Let, to let know 

■ to let see 
Light, to be light 
Like, to be, if one likes 
Likely, to be likely to 
Live, to live well 

to live ill 

Load, to load with 
Lock (to) 
Long, to long 

to be long before 

Look, to look (ill, &c.) 

to look well 

to look sulky 

to look into 

to look as if, or to be 

likely to 
Lot, to fall to the lot of 



S'en remettre a, ien rapporter 

a, se reposer sur 
Ne vous en deplaise 
II me reste 
Faire careme 

savoir a 

voir ci 



Ne tenir qu'a 
Avoir Fair de 
Faire bonne chere 

mauvaise chere 

Combler de 

Fermer a la clef ,; 

II m-e tarde de 

Tarder a 

Avoir Vair (malade, fyc.) 



Faire la mine 
Bonner sur 
Avoir Vair de 

Tomber en partage d, 
echoir c, 



or 



IXDEX. 



183 



Luck, to bring good-luck Porter honheur 

to bring ill-luck malheur 

Lurch, to leave in the lurch Planter la. 

M. 

Made, to get or have made Fair ef aire 

Make, to make ashamed Jwnte a 

to make the most of valoir 

to make faces la grimace 

to make one's self mas- Se rendre maitre de 

ter of 

to make game of Se jouer de 

Manage, to manage so that Faire que 
Matter, to be the matter with Avoir 

to be the matter S'agir de 

Mean (to) Vouloir dire 

Meat, to eat meat Faire gras 

Meet, to go and meet Alter au-devant de 

Merely Ne faire que 

Mind, to dwell upon one's Tenir au cosur a 

mind 

to have a mind to Avoir envie de 

to make up one's mind Prendre son parti 

(to) Tenir compte 

Mistrust (to) Se mefier de 

Mouth, to make one's mouth Faire venir Veau a la louche a 

water 

Muddy, to be Faire crotte 

N. 

Name (my name is) Je me nomme 

Nearly Peu s* enfant que 

Need, to stand in need of 1 A . , . 7 
, i > Avoir besom de 

Nevertheless, to (think, &c.) Ne laisser pas de (croire, fyc.) 
nevertheless 

0. 

Objection, to have no objec- Ne demander pas mieux que de 
tion to 



184 



INDEX. 



Oblige (to) Faire plaisir a 
Occasion, to give occasion Bonner lieu or sujet 
to have no occasion N' avoir que faire de 

for 
Obliged, to be obliged to Savoir bon gre a 
Offence, to take offence at, or Prendre en mauvaise part 

to be offended at 
Only Ne faire que 

Over, to be all over with Mrefait de 

P. 

Plier bagage 

Avoir mat a 

Pardonner a une personne 

Avoir part a 

Regarder de pres 

Faire attention 

une visite 



Pack, to pack off 
Pain, to have a pain in 
Pardon (to), a person 
Part, to take part in 
Particular (to be) 
Pay, to pay attention 

to pay a visit 

Pity (to) 

to excite pity 

Place, to be the place to 
Plainly 

Play, to play on 

Please (to) 

Pledge, to pledge, to pawn 

Possible, how is it possible to 

Possibility, there is no possi- 
bility to 

Praise (to) 

Prejudiced (to be) 

Present, to make a present 

Presume (to) 

Pretend (to) 

to pretend to be 

Prize (to) 

Produce (to) 

Proof, to be proof against 

Profit, to profit by 

Proper, to think proper 



Avoir pitie de 

Faire pitie 

Etre a 

En bon Francais 

Jouer de 

Faire plaisir a 

Mettre en gage 

Le moyen de 

II n'y a pas moyen de 

Faire Veloge de 
Avoir des prejuges 
Faire cadeau de 
Se faire fort de 
Faire semblant de 
Faire 

- cas de 

naitre 

Etre a Vepremc ( 
Mettre a profit 
Trouver bon, 



INDEX. 



185 



Prosecute (to) 

Pump (to) 

Pursue, to pursue a conduct 

Put, to put up with 

to put up with, to bear 

to put to death 

to put off 

to put an end to 

to put or get through 

to put in (a word) 

to put up to 

to put on a wrong scent 

to put to the sword 

to put in mind 



Faire son proces a 

Tire?' les vers du nez a 

Tenir une conduite 

Se c out enter de 

Essuyer 

Faire mourir 

Remettre 

Faire cesser 

Passer 

Placer fun mot) 

Mettre an fait 

en defaut 



Eainy, to be rainy (weather) 
Rather, to have rather 
Reason, to have reason to 

to give reason 

Reasonable (to be) 

Receive, io receive (money) 

Reflect (to) 

Eelate (to) 

Eely, to rely on 

Eepair to repair to 

Eeproach (to) 

Eespect (to), impersonal 

Return, to return home 

Rid, to yet rid of 

Right (to be) 

to have a right 

Rise, to rise from meals 

to give rise to 

Roast, to roast 
Roll, to roll in 



Passer an fit de Vepee 
Rappeler 

R. 

Faire pluvieux 

Aimer mieux 
Avoir lieu or sujet de 
Do nner lieu or sujet de 
Entendre raison, 
Toucher (de V argent J 
Faire reflex-ion 

le-recit de 

fond sur 

Se rendre a 

Faire des reproches a 

S'agir de, etre question de 

Rentrer 

Se defaire de 

Avoir raison 

le droit 

Se lever de table 
Faire naitre 

rotir 

Router sur 



Sail, to set sail Faire voile, mettre a la voile 

Satisfied, to be satisfied with Se contenter de 



186 INDEX. 

Satisfaction, to take satisfac- Tirer raison de 

tion for 
to give satis- Faire raison 

faction 
Save, to save the life of Sauver la vie a 
Scarcely, I can scarcely J'ai de la peine a 

Scrape, to get out of a scrape Se tirer d'embarras 
Scruple (to) — faire scrupule de 

See, to go to see Alter trouver 

— r- not to see at a Ne voir goutte 

to let see Faire voir a 

Seize, to seize on (a military Se rendre maiire de 

term) 



to seize on 


Se saisir de 


Send, to send for 


Faire venir 


to send word 


dire 


Serve, to serve as or for 


Servir de 


(to) 


Rendre service a 


Set, to set up for 


Faire 


to set value on 


cas de 


to set sail 


voile, mettre a la voile 


— « — to set (out on a journey) Se mettre en route 


to set up again 


Remettre sur pied 


to set about 


S'y prendre 


to set fire to 


Mettre le feu a 



Shake, to shake off Se defaire de 

Shame (to) Faire honte a 

Share (to) Prendre part, avoir part a 

Shave (to), one's self Se faire la barbe 

Shelter (to) Mettre a couvert or a Vabri 

Shipwrecked (to be) Faire naufrage 

Show (to) voir 

Simple (to be) Ftre bon 

Sink (to) Couler a fond 
Sit, to sit down to meals Se mettre a table 
Situation, to be out of a si- Ftre sur le pave* 

tuation 

Stake, to be at Y oiler (imp.) 

Stand, to stand firm Tenir bon 

to stand Ftre debout 

Stick, to stick to S'en tenir a 



INDEX. 187 


Strike, to strike against 


Donner contre 


— — — a thought strikes me 


II me vient une pensee 


Succeed (to) 


En venir a bout 


Sulky, to look sulky 


Faire la mine 


Sunny, to be sunny 


du soleil 


Suspect (to) 


Se douter de 


Sustain, to sustain a loss 


Faire une perte 


Swift, as swift as an arrow 


Comme un eclair 
T. 

Oter 


Take, to take away ) 
to take off / 


to take care not to 


N* avoir garde de, or se garder 




Men de 


to take care of 


Avoir soin de 


to take into one's head S'aviser 


to take from 


Fnlever a 


to take after 


Tenir de 


to take amiss or ill 


Trouver mauvais 


to take satisfaction 


Tirer raison 


to take up 


Faire saisir 


to take offence at 


Prendre en mauvaise part 


to take out (a stain, &c.) Faire en alter 


to take care, i.e., to be 


- Prendre garde 


ware 




to take a walk 


Faire un tour 


to take a joke 


Entendre raillerie 


Tell, to teU fibs 


En conter 


Testimony (to bear) 


Rendre temoignage de 


Thank (to) 


graces a 


There, there to be 


Y avoir 


Thirsty (to be) 


Avoir soif 


Train (to) 


Dresser a 


Treat (to), to use ill or well 


En user avec 


to treat with kindness 


Faire des amities a 


Trouble, to get out of trouble Se tirer d'affaires 


to get into trouble 


— faire des affaires 


to trouble one's self — mettre en peine de 


about 




Trust (to) 


■ — fier a 


Turn, to turn (soldier, &c.) 


— faire 



188 



INDEX. 



Turn, to turn out of doors Chasser or mettre a la ports 
— to turn the conversation Faire. tomber la conversation 

U. 
Unanimously D'une commune voix 

Understand, to understand S' entendre a 

how to 
Use, to be of no use Ne servir de rien 

V. 
Vain, it is in vain for me to J'ai beau 
Value (to), or set value on Faire cas de 

Vex (to) du depit a 

W. 
Walk, to take a walk Faire un tour 

Want (to), to stand in need Avoir besoin de 

of 

(to) to be deficient in II manque a 

to want with (a person) Vouloir a 

to want with (a thing) de 

Warm (to be or feel) Avoir chaud 

to be warm weather Faire chaud 

Wash (to), neuter Faire la lessive 

Water (to make one's mouth) venir Veaa a la boucJie 

Way, to give way to Se laisser alter a 

to go on one's own way Alter son train 

to get out of the way S'dter 

"W ar (to) Porter 

Well (to be) Se porter bien 

Wet (to be) Faire humide 

Word, to send word dire, mander 

— — to go from one's word Manquer de parole a 

with r± 

While, to find it worth one's Y trouver son compte 

while 
Whisper (to) Farler a Voreille, dire a Vo- 

reille 
Wish (to), very much to Mourir oVenvie de 
Word, to send word Faire dire a 

Wrong, to be wrong Avoir tort 

■ to wrong Faire tort a 



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